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Of  Oregon,  and  Washington  Territory; 


The  Home  Missionary  Society 

Of  Oregon  and  Adjoining  Territories; 


Northwestern    Association 

Of  Congregational  Ministers. 


V 


By  Rev.  M.  Eells. 


PORTLAND,   OREGON : 

PUBLISHING    HOUSE   OF   HIMES   THE    PRINTER. 


INTRODUCTORY 


I'  the  annual  meeting  of  the  association  held  at  Forest 
Grove  in  1S79,  the  following-  resolution,  offered  by 
Rev.  George  IT.  Atkinson,  D.D.,  was  unanimously 
passed : 

"Resolved,  That  Rev.  M.  Eells  be  requested  to  nuke  out  a  brief  digest  ol  our 
history,  from  the  minutes  and  other  papers  in  his  hands." 

In  accordance  with  this   the  following   pages   have  been  written. 

Where  there  seemed  to  be  no  natural  arrangement  of  subjects 
in  each  chapter,  they  have  heen  placed  in  alphabetical  order.  The 
size  of  this  pamphlet  has  prevented  my  dwelling  at  length  on  main 
points  which  occupied  much  time  in  the  association,  but  I  have  en- 
deavored to  refer  to  everything  of  importance  briefly,  and  to  note 
every  important  action  taken.  The  history  clones  with  the  annual 
meeting  held  at  Astoria,  June  20-24,  18S0.  M.    E. 

Skokomish,   Washington    Territory. 


Table  of  C 


ABLE   OF    CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  [.—History. 

History  of  Indian  mission  work  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. — Organization — Historical 
Sketch — Time  of  Meeting — Constituency — Lay  Delegation — Officers — Standing 
Committees — Delegates  to  and  from  other  Bodies — Foreign  Correspondence — 
Licensing  Candidates — Printing  of  the  Minutes: — Our  History — Washington  Ter- 
ritory Association — Local  Associations — List  of  Ministers— -of  churches — Annual 
meetings  and  officers — Annual  Preachers.      Statistical  reports 9  25. 


CHAPTER   II.— Education. 

General  Education — Tualatin  Academy  and   Pacific   University — Whitman  Seminary 
-  .Academies — Theological  School    26-32. 


CHAPTER  III.— Moral  Reform. 
Dancing  and  other  amusements.     Divorce — Slavery — Sabbath — Temperance.  .33  38. 

CHAPTER  IV.— Church  Work. 

Prayer  Meetings — sabbath  schools — Church  Finances — Systematic  Giving — Day  of 
Fasting  and  Prayer — Protracted  Meetings 39  42. 

CHAPTER  V.  — Questions  of  Advice. 

Baptism — Creed — Articles  of  Faith — Dropping  names  from  church  roll — Extempore 
Preaching — Free  Seat  System — Hymn  Books — Invitation  to  the  Communion 
Table — Local  Church— Stated  Ministry  —Sympathy  between  churches— Treatment 
of  Offenders 43  4^- 


Congregational  Association. 


CHAPTER  VI.  —  Home  Missions  and  Church  Building. 

Home  Missions — Committee  on  Destitution  and  Supply-^-Home  Missionary  Com- 
mittee— Home  Missionary  Society  of  <  )regon  and  adjoining  territories  <  (fficers — 
Receipts — Work  of  General  Missionary — Home  Missionary  Grants  —  Church 
Building 49  55- 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Indians  and  Chinese 56  60. 

CHAPTER  VIII.— Benevolent  Socie'i  iks. 

American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  foreign  Missions — Womens'  Board  of  Mis- 
sions— American  Congregational  Union — American  Education  Society — American 
Tract  Society — Anti-Slavery  and  Freedman's  Aid  Societies — Christian  Commission 
and  Sanitary  Association — Congregational  Publishing  Society  —  Temperance 
Societies — Young  Men's  Christian  Associations — American  Missionary  Association 
— Missions. 61    64. 

CHAPTER  IX. — Miscellaneous  Subjki  i   . 

Business  relations  of  the  churches — Children  and  the  Church — Christian  Unity — 
Church  membership — Church  and  Nation — Church  Polity — Comity — Congrega- 
tionalism and  Missionary  work — Congregational  Library — Criticism — English 
Ritualism — How  to  make  Sabbath  services  more  fruitful — Religious  newspaper  for 
Oregon — Pacific — Religious  institution  of  the  Household — Reviews  of  Books — 
Secret   Societies — State  of  Country — Science    and  Christianity — Exegesis — Day 

—65   70. 

CHAPTER  X. — Ministerial  Association. 

History — Mem  Iters — Officers — Licentiates — Ordinations —  Installations — ( )bject 

— 7«   74. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Ministers,  Northwestern   Association  of. 75  S  5. 


CONGREG  A  TION  A  I.    Assc  )i  I  ATION . 


i  HAPTER  XII.— Churches. 

Oregon    City — Forest    Grove— Milwaukee — Portland — Salem — Albany-    Corvallis 
Dallas — Grand    I'rairie  -Sand    Ridge — Eola — The    Dalles — Astoria — 1  lillsboro 
Seattle — East    Portland— Bellingham     l!ay — Atalmum — Olympia     Boise    City 
New    Tacoma-  -Skokomisb     Semiahmoo     White     River- -Colfax  —  Dayton — Old 
Tacotna — North  Portland — Yakima  City — Spokane  Falls — White  Salmon — Cha- 
we-lah — Wenass— Eight-Mile   Creek — Mount    Zion — Beaverton — Port    Gamble — 
Prineville — Seabeck — Washougal — Mount  Pleasant 84  124. 


CHAPTER  I.— HISTORY. 


;HIS  Association  was  organized  in  1848.  That,  how- 
ever, was  not  the  first  of  Congregationalism  in  Ore- 
gon as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  sketch  of  the 
work   of  the    American   Board   of  Commissioners  for 

Foreign  Missions  on  this  coast,  prepared  by  Rev.  C.  Eells,  for  the 

Centennial,  1876: 

"  History  of  Indian  Mission  "Work  of  the  A.B.C.F.M.  in  Oregon. 

"Previous  to  the  year  1825,  gentlemen  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  had  communicated  some  knowledge  of  the  true  God  to 
the  Spokane  and  adjoining  tribes  of  Indians.  Subsequently,  among 
those  thus  instructed,  a  desire  prevailed  for  the  obtaining  of  like  addi- 
tional knowledge.  Impelled  by  such  desire,  about  the  year  1S33  a 
deputation  of  five,  more  or  less,  commenced  a  journey  eastward,  in 
search  of  such  knowledge.  The  journey  was  continued  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  The  substantial  facts  relative  to  these  Indians  became 
known.  In  print,  the  statement  caught  the  eye  of  interested  read- 
ers. The  officers  and  patrons  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  saw  in  it  indication  of  an  open  door.  By  it,  they  heard 
anew  the  voice  of  their  Lord — 'Go  teach  all  nations.'  They  were 
not  disobedient  to  the  call.  Consequent  thereupon,  ineffectual  ef- 
fort was  made  in  183410  cause  exploration.  In  1835  the  effort  was 
renewed.  Rev.  Samuel  Parker  and  Marcus  Whitman,  M.D.,  pro- 
ceeded to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  the  headquarters  of  the  American  Fur 
Company.  They  were  permitted  to  travel  with  the  caravan  of  the 
company  to  their  rendezvous  on  Green  river.  At  that  time  and 
place,  there  was  a  large  gathering  of  fur  traders  and  trappers. 
Representatives  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  and  of  several  In- 
dian tribes  were  present.  By  information  then  and  there  obtained, 
it  became  apparent  that  the  way  was  open  to  Christian  teachers  to 
locate  on  the  western  slope  of  America.  Consequently,  Dr.  Whit- 
man and  Mr.  Parker  separated.  The  latter,  for  the  purpose  of  ad- 
ditional  exploration,  proceeded  to    Walla   Walla   and  Vancouver, 


io  Congregational  Association. 


under  the  auspices  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  The  next  year 
he  returned  to  Boston  by  the  way  of  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Dr. 
Whitman  accompanied  the  returning  caravan.  His  report  caused 
prompt  action.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman,  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding 
and  wife,  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Gray  were  appointed  missionary  labor- 
ers of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions destined  to  Oregon.  Early  in  1846  said  missionary  band 
commenced  their  journey  to  their  foreign  field.  From  the  western 
frontier  of  the  states  they  were  favored  with  the  protection  of  the 
American  and  Hudson's  Bay  Companies.  In  the  autumn  following, 
they  reached  Walla  Walla  and  Vancouver.  By  favor  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company,  outfit  was  furnished  the  Mission  families. 

"They  returned  and  located,  Dr.  Whitman  on  the  Walla  Walla 
among  the  Cayuse,  and  Mr.  Spalding  on  the  Lapwai  among  the 
Nez  Perces  Indians.  By  the  following  spring,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  mission,  additional  helpers  were  needed — therefore  it  was 
agreed  that  Mr.  Gray  return  East,  the  bearer  of  such  communica- 
tion. A  reinforcement  of  three  ordained  missionaries  with  their 
several  wives,  assistant  missionaries,  was  appointed,  viz :  Revs.  E. 
Walker,  A.  B.  Smith  and  C.  Eells.  The  recently  married  Mrs. 
Gray  received  aprjointment.  In  the  spring  of  1838  the  four  fami- 
lies met  at  Independence,  Mo.  Last  of  April  they  came  up  with 
the  American  Fur  Company,  at  the  crossing  of  Kansas  river. 
Under  the  protection  of  said  company  they  proceeded  to  rendez- 
vous on  Wind  river.  During  most  of  the  way  from  there  to 
Walla  Walla,  they  were  furnished  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Co.  with 
escort.  On  the  29th  of  August  said  reinforcement  arrived  at  the 
station  of  Dr.  Whitman,  having  been  139  days  on  the  way  from 
the  western  border  of  Missouri. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  mission  held  early  in  September,  Mr.  Gray 
was  assigned  to  Lapwai,  to  co-operate  with  Mr.  Spalding.  Mr. 
Smith  was  appointed  the  associate  of  Dr.  Whitman.  Messrs. 
Walker  and  Eells  were  to  select  a  new  location  among  the 
Spokane  Indians.  The  place  chosen  was  near  a  spring  on  a  plain 
six  miles  north  of  the  Spokane  river.  Of  this  they  took  posses- 
sion March  20,  1839,  having  spent  the  winter  at  Wailatpu  or 
Cayuse  station,  in  the  study  of  the  Flathead  language.  Nez  Perces 
Lawyer  was  their  teacher.  In  the  summer  of  1839  Mr.  Smith,  at 
his  request,  located   among  the   Nez  Perces  at  Kamiah,  sixty  miles 


Congregational  Association.  i  i 


from  Lapwai.  In  the  summer  of  1S42  he  left  the  station  and  mis- 
sion, and  joined  the  Sandwich  Islands'  mission.  In  the  autumn  of 
the  same  year  Mr.  Gray  withdrew  from  the  mission.  About  the 
same  time  Dr.  Whitman  started  eastward  overland,  and,  in  March 
following,  at  rived  at  Washington  City,  D.  C.  During  that  season 
he  conducted  a  wagon  train  of  a  thousand  souls  from  the  western 
frontier  to  the  Columbia  river.  The  arrival  of  said  immigrants 
was  decisive  in  regard  to  the  settlement  of  the  counti'y  by  Ameri- 
cans. 

"  Missionary  work  was  prosecuted  among  the  Nez  Perces,  Cayuse 
and  Spokane  Indians  till  November  29,  1846,  on  which  day  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Whitman  and  seven  others  were  massacred.  Subse- 
quently, and  connected  therewith,  five  more  victims  were  added. 
During  the  winter  following  Mr.  Spalding  and  family,  together 
with  the  wives  and  children  of  those  massacred,  were  taken  out  of 
the  country  by  P.  S.  Ogden,  Esq.,  Chief  Factor  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company. 

"  During  June,  1848,  in  accordance  with  military  order,  and 
under  military  escort,  the  families  of  Messrs.  Walker  and  Eells  were 
conducted  out  of  the  country.  The  Indians,  thus  deprived  of  their 
teachers,  continued  to  perform  acts  of  divine  worship. 

"In  the  summer  of  1859,  by  military  proclamation,  the  Walla 
Walla  country  was  declared  open  for  settlement.  During  that 
season  Mr.  Spalding  made  an  attempt  to  resume  his  previous  work 
among  the  Nez  Perces.  From  that  time  till -his  death,  August, 
1874,  he  continued  in  his  cherished  work  to  about  the  extent  per- 
mitted by  governmental  officers.  It  is  indisputable  that  the  seal  of 
Divine  approval  has  been  affixed  to  the  Christian  work  of  Rev. 
H.  H.  Spaulding  among  the  Nez  Perces  Indians. 

"  The  Spokane  Indians,  though  destitute  of  spiritual  guides, 
mutually  aided  each  other  in  retaining  a  knowledge  of  Divine 
truth.  They  continued  earnest  and  constant  in  the  practice  of 
Christian  duties.  The  residence  of  Mr.  Eells  at  Walla  Walla, 
from  i860  to  1872,  furnished  them  the  opportunity  of  renewing 
previous  instruction.  They  made  faithful  improvement  of  this,  to 
them,  highly  esteemed  privilege.  After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Eells 
from  Walla  Walla,  in  1872,  they  made  application  to  the  Protestant 
religious  teachers  among  the  Nez  Perces.  The  result  thereof  was, 
that  in  1874  Rev.  H.  T.  Cowley  located  among  them.      He  is  in  the 


Congregational  Association. 


employ  of  government  as  a  teacher,  but  adds  thereto  Scripture  in- 
struction. 

"  Mr.  Eells  made  three  several  visits,  in  1862,  '74,  and  '75  to 
that  people  in  that  country.  He  thus  spent  near  two  months 
with  them,  and  participated  in  about  forty  services.  The  earlier 
and  latter  sowing  of  the  seed  of  gospel  truth  among  the  Spokane 
Indians  has  produced  abundant  harvest." 

That  mission  held  its  annual  meetings,  which  answered  all  the 
purposes  of  a  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  association;  Revs. 
E.  Walker,  A.  B.  Smith  and  C.  Eells  having  been  Congregational- 
ists,  and  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding  and  Dr.  M.  Whitman,  Presbyter- 
ians. The  records  of  those  meetings  were  destroyed  either  at  the 
massacre  of  Dr.  Whitman,  or  by  a  fire  which  in  1872  consumed 
the  house  of  Rev.  C.  Eells. 

After  the  massacre  the  remaining  members  of  the  mission  re- 
moved to  the  Willamette  valley;  other  ministers  had  also  arrived 
in  the  same  region,  and  July  13,  1848,  the  association  was  organ- 
ized.    The  following  are  the  records  of  this  event: 

"  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Walker,  Spalding,  Thompson,  Clark  and 
Atkinson  met  at  the  house  of  Bro.  Harvey  Clark  at  the  Tualatin 
Plains.  Articles  of  an  association  for  the  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  brethren  were  submitted  to  them."  As  a  result  a 
constitution  and  by-laws  was  adopted,  in  most  points  similar  to 
those  which  now  govern  the  body. 

With  one  exception,  1S52,  meetings  have  been  held  every  year 
since  its  organization.  There  is  no  record  of  the  meetings  ot  1861, 
but  it  is  evident  that  one  was  held  from  the  fact  that  some  of  the 
resolutions  passed  that  vear  were  reconsidered,  the  following  year. 
The  records  of  1854  are  incomplete,  the  minutes  of  one  day  and 
part  of  another  having  been  made,  when  they  are  broken  off  in 
the  middle  of  a  sentence. 

In  those  eai'ly  days  owing  to  the  bad  condition  of  the  roads,  and 
the  scattered  condition  of  the  members  the  meetings  were  some- 
times very  small,  and  sometimes  were  adjourned  for  a  month  or 
two,  until  more  could  assemble.  Thus  at  Oregon  City,  Sept.  13, 
1849,  only  three  persons  were  present,  and  after  one  day's  session  it 
was  voted  to  "  adjourn  to  meet  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  secre- 
tary shall  designate,"  which  proved  to  be  November  1st,  of  the 
same  year  at  the  same  place,  after    which  the  body  "adjourned  to 


Congregational  Association.  13 


meet  at  a  time  most  convenient,  at  the  Tualatin  Plains,  notice  hav- 
ing been  given  by  the  clerk."  At  one  time  the  body  adjourned  to 
"Tuesday,  twelve  weeks  from  the  tenth  of  December,"  1850,  but 
"  the  association  failed  to  meet  at  the  time  of  adjournment,  and 
only  two  members  attended  the  annual  meeting  Sept.  11,  1S51, 
whereupon  it  was  resolved  to  meet  at  Oregon  City,  Nov.  20,  1S51." 
Four  persons  attended  that  meeting,  and  they  remained  in  session 
three  days.  vSuch  meetings  contrast  very  greatly  with  those  of 
late  years  when  more  than  fifty  regular  members  have  been  present. 
In  1856,  for  some  reason,  the  following  resolutions  were  offered, 
threatening  the  very  existence  of  the  body : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  general  associations  of  Congregational 
churches  in  the  different  states  have  proved  to  be  important 
agencies  in  promoting  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  advisable  to  organize  such  associations  in  the 
new  states  and  territories. 

Resolved,  That  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  such  annual  associa- 
tions in  Oregon  supersede  at  present  the  advantages  to  be  expected 
from  continuing  the  existence  ot  this  organization." 

After  a  spirited  discussion  these  were  laid  on  the  table,  as  not  ex- 
pressing the  sentiments  of  the  majority,  and  have  never  been  taken 
up. 

Time  of  Meeting. 

The  tenth  article  of  the  constitution  of  1848  says  that  "  the  as- 
sociation shall  meet  annually  at  a  time  and  place  appointed  by  vote 
of  the  body."  The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  September  20, 
1 848,  at  which  time,  the  second  Thursday  of  September,  was  selected. 
This  arrangement  continued  until  1853,  when  the  time  was  changed 
to  the  first  Thursday  of  the  same  month,  and  so  remained  until 
1864,  when  the  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  Thursday  in  October; 
but  this  did  not  prove  satisfactory,  and  the  time  was  changed  to 
the  third  Thursday  in  June,  and  it  remained  so  until  18S0,  when 
it  was  changed  to  the  second  Thursday  of  July. 

The  sessions  have  generally  been  held  over  the  Sabbath,  though 
not  always  so  in  the  earlier  years.  In  1S56  five  ministers  asked  to 
be  excused  from  attendance  on  the  Sabbath  on  account  of  previous 
engagements  for  that  day,  and  an  earnest  discussion  arose  as  to  the 
propriety   of  continuing   the  sessions   over  the  Sabbath,  but   after 


14  Congregational  Association. 

considerable  debate  it  was  determined  for  the  next  year  so  to  hold 
them,  and  the  arrangement  has  continued  without  much  question, 
until  the  present. 

Constituency. 

Article  first  of  the  original  constitution  gives  as  the  name  of 
the  body  "  The  Oregon  Association,"  and  article  ninth  says  that 
"  any  Congregational  or  Presbyterian  minister  or  church  may  be  a 
member  of  the  association  by  assenting  to  the  articles  of  the  con- 
stitution and  by-laws."  The  majority  of  the  body  were,  however 
Congregationalists.  In  185 1  the  Old  School  Presbyterians  were 
invited  to  join,  and  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding  was  appointed  a  com- 
mitee  to  present  the  invitation  to  them.  Rev.  L.  Thompson,  one 
of  the  original  members,  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding,  joining  evidently 
in  1850,  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Goodell  in  1851,  were  the  only  Presbyteri- 
ans whose  names  appear  on  the  list.  While  Father  Spalding  was 
a  member,  he  reported  the  Calipooia  church,  though  it  does  not 
appear  that  that  or  any  other  Presbyterian  church  ever  assented  to 
the  constitution  or  sent  any  delegates.  In  1859,  Rev.  H.  H.  Spald- 
ing, the  last  of  the  Presbyterian  ministers,  having  withdrawn,  the 
name  was  changed  to  "  The  Congregational  Association  of 
Oregon." 

In  1870  a  Congregational  church  was  organized  at  Seattle,  W. 
T.,  the .  first  in  the  territory  which  became  connected  with  the 
body  ;  and  from  that  time  until  1879,  when  the  Congregational  As- 
sociation of  Washington  Territory  was  organized,  nearly  all  the 
churches  of  Oregon  and  Washington  were  connected  with  it.  The 
territory  of  Idaho  has  also  been  under  its  supervision,  though  only 
one  Congregational  church  was  ever  organized  in  its  limits. 

Lay  Delegation. 

The  constitution  of  184S  made  every  provision  to  have  the 
churches  represented  by  delegates,  each  church  being  entitled  to 
one  delegate;  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  any  church  availed  itself 
of  the  privilege  until  1855.  In  1848  it  was  "voted  that  the  lay 
brethren  of  our  several  churches  be  invited  to  sit  with  us  as  cor- 
responding members  and  take  part  with  us  in  our  discussions." 
In  1 85 1  "the  subject  of  a  delegation  from  the  churches  came 
up.     As  there  had  been  no  delegates,  it  was  resolved  to   lay  the 


Congregational  Association.  i^ 


matter  before  our  respective  churches,  and  solicit  their  interest 
and  co-operation  in  our  association."  In  1 85 5  four  names  are  re- 
corded as  the  first  lay  delegates.  In  1867  the  constitution  was 
amended  so  that  each  church  was  entitled  to  one  delegate  and  an  ad- 
ditional one  for  every  thirty  members.  In  1873  the  first  women 
were  sent  as  delegates,  and  since  that  time  they  have  attended  quite 
largely.  In  1S74  a  committee  was  appointed  to  revise  the  consti- 
tution with  regard  to  admitting  delegates,  from  a  church  who 
are  not  members  of  that  church,  but  the  committee  never  re- 
ported. 

Officers. 

The  original  officers  were  a  moderator  and  clerk,  to  be  elected 
annually  by  ballot.     In    1867  a  registrar  was  added,  to  be  chosen 
triennially,  and  in  1877  the  clerk  was  furnished  with  an  assistant. 
Standing  Committees. 

The  first  on  record  were  appointed  in  1S55,  which  were  on  relig- 
ious exercises,  reports  of  churches,  moral  reforms,  education,  special 
religious  effort  and  the  Nez  Perces  mission.  In  1867  a  by-law  was 
added  which  provided  for  the  present  committee  of  arrangements 
of  three,  which  by  1874  had  attended  to  all  business  so  satisfactorily 
that  other  standing  committees  were  discontinued.  In  1877  there 
were  some  who  wished  them  revived,  and  it  was  done,  but  after  two  . 
years  further  trial  they  were  again  abolished,  and  the  arrangements 
in  regard  to  the  annual  meeting  left  mainly  in  the  hands  of  the 
committee  of  arrangements,  whose  plans  from  1 S74— '77  proved 
more  satisfactory,  and  made  the  sessions  more  interesting,  than  any 
other  plan  yet  proposed. 

Delegates  to  and  from  other  Bodies. 

The  distance  to  other  states  is  so  great  that  but  few  delegates 
have  ever  been  received  from  them,  and  but  few  of  our  members 
have  visited  the  associations  of  other  states.  Nor  has  the  custom 
been  often  practiced  of  sending  delegates  to  the  annual  meetings  of 
other  denominations  in  Oregon  and  Washington,  neither  have  many 
come  to  us  from  them.  Those  who  have  been  sent  by  us  to  other 
bodies  have  so  seldom  reported  the  fact  to  this  body  that  the  list 
given  is  probably  far  from  being  full.  The  following  is  a  list  as 
taken  from  the  records: 


16  Congregational  Association. 


From  Other  Bodies. 

1855     Rev.  T.  D.  Hunt,  from  the  Association  and  N.  S.  Presbytery 

of  Cal. 
18^6     Rev.  T.  D.  Hunt,  from  the  Association  and  N.  S.  Presbytery 

of  Cal. 

1864  Rev.  D.  Leslie,  from  the  M.  E.  Conference  of  Oregon. 

1865  Rev.  W.  B.  Brown,  from  the  General  Association  of  New 

York. 
1865     Rev.  George  Mooar,  from  the    General  Association  of  Cal. 

1865  Rev.  S.  V.  Blakeslee,  from  the    Genei-al  Association  of  Cal. 

1866  Rev.  S.  V.  Blakeslee,  from  the  General  Association  of  Cal. 
1866     Rev.  J.  S.  Wylie,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Benicia,  Cal. 
1866     Rev.  R.  Wylie,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Oregon. 

1866  Rev.  B.  C.  Lippincott,  from  the  M.  E.  Conference  of  Oregon. 

1868  Rev.  J.  Spencer,  from  the  M.  E.  Conference  of  Oregon. 
1S69  Rev.  J.  A.  Benton,  from  the  General  Association  of  Cal. 

1869  Rev.  C.  C.  Stratton,  from  the  M.  E.  Conference  of  Oregon. 
187S  Rev.  S.  V.  Blakeslee,  from  the  General  Association  of  Cal. 

1878  Rev.  E.  P.  Baker,  from  the  General  Association  of  Cal. 

To  Other  Bodies. 

1 85 1  Rev.   Geo.  H.    Atkinson,  to  any    ecclesiastical  body  in  the 

States. 

1866  Rev.  P.  S.  Knight,  to  the  General  Association  of  California. 

1867  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson  to  the  M.  E.  Conference  of  Oregon. 

1879  Rev.  H.  Lyman,  to  the  General  Association  of  any  other 

State. 

To  the  National  Council. 

1852  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  Albany,  N*.  Y. 

1871  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.  D.,  Oberlin,  Ohio. 

1S74  Rev.  J.  D.  Eaton,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

1877  Rev.  P.  S.  Knight,  Prof  G.  H.  Collier,  Detroit,  Mich. 

1880  Deacon  H.  M.  Humphrey. 

Foreign  Correspondence. 

For  a  long  time  the  lack  of  delegates  to  and  from  other  states 
was  supplemented  in  a  measure  by  correspondence.  The  first  such 
letter  was  received  in  1849  from  Massachusetts  in  reply  to  one  pre- 


Congregational  Association.  17 


viously  written,  and  by  1851  it  was  arranged  so  that  each  of  the 
ministerial  brethren  was  appointed  to  correspond  with  the  general 
association  or  presbytery  of  one  or  two  other  states.  Usually,  either 
because  letters  were  not  sent  or  not  replied  to,  only  two  or  three  let- 
ters were  received  and  read  at  each  annual  meeting.  This  con 
tinued  until  1872  when  no  letters  were  received,  but  items  of  in. 
terest  were  reported  from  three  states,  gathered  from  the  papers, 
and  the  committees  were  instructed  by  vote  instead  of  correspond- 
ence to  present  such  items  of  intelligence  as  might  be  of  interest 
in  the  several  states,  and  that  year  the  list  of  committees  for  the 
last  time  appeared  in  the  minutes.  In  1874  the  registrar  was 
authorized  to  continue  the  correspondence  with  other  ecclesiastical 
organizations  ;  but  little  if  anything  of  the  kind  has  been  done  by 
him  except  to  exchange  copies  of  our  minutes  with  the  associations 
of  other  states. 

Licensing  Candidates  for  the  Ministry. 

This  has  not  usually  been  considered  as  belonging  to  the  business 
of  the  association,  but  to  the  ministerial  body.  Yet  it  is  probable 
that  for  a  series  of  years  that  organization  held  but  few,  if  any 
meetings,  as  in  1862  Bro.  D.  B.  Gray  was  licensed  by  this  body  ; 
in  1S64  Bro.  E.  A.  Tanner  was  also  licensed,  and  both  of  these 
licenses  were  renewed  the  year  after  they  were  first  granted. 

Printing  of  Minutes. 

In  1849  after  the  secretary's  report  was  read,  it  was  voted  to  pub- 
lish it  if  consistent  with  our  means,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  it 
was  done.  The  next  year  it  was  "  resolved  that  the  printing  be 
left  to  the  discretion  of  the  clerk,  and  that  any  expense  incurred 
tor  it  be  paid  by  the  association."  In  1856  it  "was  resolved  that 
an  abstract  of  the  minutes  be  published  by  the  clerk  in  the  Pacific 
[Christian]  Advocate,  Argus,  Oregonian,  Standard^  and  in  the  Pacific 
of  California?"1  But  it  was  not  until  1857  that  the  minutes  were 
printed  in  pamphlet  form,  and  they  have  been  so  published  every 
year  since,  with  the  exception  of  1S6 1-2-3.  ^n  :^59  tne  associa- 
tion^ sermon  on  Congregational  Polity  was  printed  with  them, 
but  with  that  exception  nothing  was  published  except  the  minutes, 
constitution,  by-laws,  articles  of  faith,  covenant  and  reports  of  com- 
mittees, until  1S75  when  most  of  the  essays  were  added,  and  since 


1 8  Congregational  Association. 


that  time  most  of  such  papers  have  been  published.  In  1879  and 
1880  those  not  thus  published  were  printed  in  the  Pacific.  In  1875 
the  minutes  and  reports  of  the  O.  H.  M.  Society  were  added,  and 
in   1878  those  of  the  Ministerial  Association. 

At  first  the  expense  was  defrayed  by  subscription  from  the  min- 
isters and  churches.  In  1S64,  the  churches  were  requested  to  take 
up  collections,  and  in  1867,  the  clerk  was  authorized  to  assess  the 
churches  for  this  purpose.  But  there  being  a  lack  of  promptness 
in  "paying  the  printer,"  in  1S77  the  churches  were  requested  to 
take  up  their  collections  before  the  annual  meeting,  and  send  them 
to  it;  but  it  has  not  always  been  done.  In  "879,  some  of  the 
churches  expressed  themselves  as  dissatisfied  with  the  arrangement 
of  assessment  pro  rata,  and  the  publishing  committee  were  author- 
ized to  solicit  advertisements  to  aid  in  defraying  the  expense. 

Our  History. 

The  first  effort  at  writing  this  was  made  in  i860,  when  Bro. 
Atkinson  was  requested  to  prepare  a  brief  history  of  Congrega- 
tionalism in  Oregon  and  forward  it  to  the  Congregational  Quarterly, 
but  it  was  not  done. 

In  1875,  the  Ministerial  Association  requested  the  same  person 
to  write  up  the  history  of  the  Congregational  churches  of  our 
association  for  the  centennial  year,  and  the  Doctor  requested  the 
various  churches  to  send  such  a  history  to  him,  but  only  those  of 
Oregon  City,  Forest  Grove,  Skokomish  and  Portland,  responded. 
Rev.  J.  A.  Cruzan  prepared  two  articles  in  1879,  one  on  the  history 
of  the  church  at  Portland,  and  the  other  on  Congregationalism  on 
this  northwest  coast;  and  Mrs.  H.  H.  Steele  about  the  same  time 
wrote  a  sketch  of  the  church  at  Olympia.  This  is  about  all  that 
has  been  done  previous  to  the  present  effort. 

Washington  Territory  Association. 

In  1879,  a  call  was  made  to  the  ministers  and  churches  of  Wash- 
ington, to  organize  an  association  for  the  territory,  at  Seattle,  June 
26th.  The  members  from  that  territory  who  were  present  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  this  body,  a  week  previous,  thought  it  inex- 
pedient at  the  present  time,  and  so  reported,  and  by  resolution,  the 
churches  of  Washington,  were  requested  to  defer  such  action  at 
present,  and   a  committee   appointed   to   convey   to  the  meeting  at 


Congregational   Association.  19 


Seattle,  the  fraternal  greetings  of  this  body  and  advice  to  delay 
action.  This  was  done;  but  the  Washington  Territory  Association 
was  organized,  and  a  reply  sent,  in  which  they  stated,  that,  "After 
the  fullest  discussion,  they  were  ready  to  decide  that  we  shall  now 
have  an  association."  Five  churches  and  five  ministers  of  this 
body  joined  that  organization. 

Local    Associations. 

In  1879  a  request  came  from  the  church  at  Spokane  Falls,  W. 
T.,  asking  the  privilege  of  organizing  a  local  association,  to  be 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Walla  Walla,  Columbia,  Whitman  and 
Stevens,  in  Washington,  and  the  counties  of  Idaho,  Shoshone  and 
Nez  Perces,  in  Idaho,  with  the  privilege  of  sending  one  or  more 
delegates  to  the  annual  meeting  of  this  body  who  should  have  the 
privilege  of  casting  the  entire  vote  to  which  those  churches  were 
entitled.  This,  after  being  referred  to  a  committee,  was  granted, 
and  September  5th,  1S79,  such  an  association  was  organized  at 
Colfax,  comprising  three  churches  and  their  pastors. 

A  similar  request  was  made  for  the  churches  on  Puget  Sound, 
at  the  same  time,  but  owing  to  the  organization  of  the  Washington 
Territorv  Association,  nothing  has  been  done. 

List  of  Ministers  who  have  been  Members  of  the  Association. 

Received.  Same.  When  and  where  dismissed. 

1848 Harvey  Clark 1858 Deceased. 

1 848 ....  Lewis  Thompson 

184S Elkanah  Walker 1877  ....  Deceased. 

1848. . .  .Cushing  Eells 

1848. . .  .George  H.  Atkinson 

1850. . .  .Henry  H.  Spalding About  1868. .  ..Dismissed.     Deceased,  1874. 

1850 ....  Horace  Lyman 

1850. . .  .D.  R.  Williams About  1853 Deceased. 

1851 ...  J.  W.  Goodell About  1859. . .  .Deceased. 

1853 S.  H.  Marsh 1879 Deceased. 

1853.... O.  Dickinson 

1854.  . .  .Thomas  Condon 

1854. . .  .Milton  B.  Starr 1864.  .  .  .  Dismissed  to  California  Association. 

1856. . .  .P.  B.   Chamberlain 1863.  .  .  .Dismissed. 

1857  ....  W.  A.  Tenney 1862 ....  Dismissed  to  Maine  Association. 

1862.  . . .  D.  B.  Gray 1870. . . .  Removed  to  California  Association. 

1864. . .  .  E.   A.  Tanner 1865.  . .  .Removed  to  Illinois. 

1866 P.  Stewart  Knight 


20 


Congregational   Association. 


Received. 

1866 

1S67 

1867 

1868 

1869 

1870 

1870 

1870 

1871 

1871 

1873 
1874 

1874 
1875 
1875 
1876 
1876 
1876 
1876 
1877 
1877 
1878 
1878 
1878 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1880 
1880 


1879 
1879 


Name.  When  and  -where  dismissed. 

.John  F.  Damon ^79 . . .  .Removed  to  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

.  Daniel  A.  Miles 1870. . . .  Removed  to  Massachusetts. 

.  C.  A.  Huntington 1880 ....  Removed  to  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

.  j.  H.  D.  Henderson 

.  W.  J.  Clark 1870. . . .  Removed  to  California. 

.  W.  R.  Butcher 1877 Dismissed  to  Chicago  (111.)  Cong'l  Ass 

.  E.  Gerry 1873 ....  Removed  to  Vermont. 

.  W.  A.  Tenney 1875. . .  .Removed  to  California. 

.CM.  Blake 1872 Removed. 

.  W.  R.  Joyslin 1875 ....  Removed  to  Massachusetts. 

.J.  D.  Eaton 1876. . . . Removed  to  New  Jersey. 

.  N.  McLeod 1874. . . .  Removed  to  Wisconsin. 

.  Myron  Eells 

.  Phares  Harrison '879. . .  -  Removed  to  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

.J.  F.  Ellis '879. . .  .Removed  to  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

.  Frederick  Crang 

.  George  W.  Skinner 1876 ....  Removed  to  Kansas. 

.  Wm.  M.  Stewart '879.  - . .  Removed  to  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

.  E.  Godfrey 1879. . .  .  Removed  to  M.  E.  Church. 

.John  A.  Cruzan 

.  D.  B.  Gray 

.  W.  B.  Floyd 1879. . . .  Removed  to  Connecticut. 

.  R.  S.  Stubbs 

.S.  S.   Markham '879. . .  .Removed  to  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

.  N.  W.  Lane 

.  A.  W.  Bower 

J.  W.  Watts   

.  S.  S.  Van  Dersal 

.  E.  P.  Roberts 

.  Edward  Rogers 

.  William  Capps 

.  H.  T.  Cowley  * 

.  E.  W.   Allen  * 

List  of  Churches. 


When 
AVi  eived. 


When 
Dismissed. 


Now  Dismissed. 


1855 
1855 
1855 
1865 

1857 
1857 
1857 


Place. 

. .  Forest  Grove,  Or 

. .  Oregon  City,  Or 

. .  Grand  Prairie,  Or Dropped  from  list. 

.  .  Dallas,  Or 1866 do 

.  .Calipooia,  (N.  S.  Pres.)  Or.  ...    1859 do 

. .  Albany,  Or 

. .  Portland,  Or 


*  Members  of  the  Eastern  Washington  Local  Association,  auxiliary  to  this  body. 


Congregational   Association. 


When  pla  e  When 

Received.  Dismissed, 


Place-  Dismissed.  How  dis"li^d- 

. .  Salem,  Or 

.  .Corvallis  Or 1864. . .  .Dropped  from  list. 

. .  Sand  Ridge,  Or 1864. . . .  Dropped  from  list. 

..The  Dalles,  Or 

..Hillsboro,  Or 

. .  Astoria,  Or 

. .  East  Portland,  Or 

. .  Atahnum,  W.  T     

.  .Seattle,  W.  T 1879. . .  .Joined  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

..Olympia,  W.  T 1879 do 

. .  Boise  City,  Idaho 1875 ....  Diopped  from  list. 

. .  New  Tacoma,  W.  T 1879. . .  .Joined  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

. .  Bellingham  Bay,  W.  T 1878 Dropped  from  list. 

. .  Skokomish,  W.  T 

.  .Semiahmoo,  W.  T 1879. . .  .Joined  Wash.  Ter.  Association. 

.  .White  River,  W.  T do 

..Colfax,  W.  T 

.  .Dayton,  W.  T 

. .  Spokane  Falls,  W.  T 

.  .Yakima  City,  W.  T 

. .  White  Salmon,  W.  T 

. .  North  Portland,  Or 

. .  Prineville,  Or 

. .  Mount  Zion,  Or 

. .  Beaverton,  Or 

. .  Five-Mile  Creek,  Or 

. .  Wenass,  W.  T 

. .  Chawelah,  W.  T 

..Seabeck,  W.  T 

. .  Port  Gamble,  W.  T 

. .  Mount  Pleasant,  W.  T 

. .  Washougal,  W.  T 

Annual  Meetings. 

Date.  Place.  Moderator.  Clerk. 

1848 — July  13.  .Forest  Grove Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  L.  Thompson 

I — Sept.  20-22.  .Oregon  City Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

1848 — Sept.         12.  .Oregon  City Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

1849— Nov.  1 .  .  Oregon  City Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

1850 — Sept.  12-13.  -Forest  Grove Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

1850— Dec.  11..  Forest  Grove Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

1851 — Sept.         11..  Forest  Grove Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

185 1— Nov.  20-22.  .Oregon  City Rev.  H.  Clark Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

1852 —  ..Calipooia* 


Was  selected,  but  probably  no  meeting  was  held. 


22  Congregational  Association. 


Date.  Place.  Moderatot.  Clerk. 

1853— Sept.  1—5.  .Forest  Grove Rev.  H.  Lyman Rev.  S.  H.  Marsh 

1854— Sept.  7—8 .  .  Salem Rev.  T.  Condo  n Rev.  S.  H.  Marsh 

1855 — Sept.  610. .  Grand  Prairie Rev.  O.  Dickinson. .  .  Rev.  T.  Condon 

1856— Sept.  4— 8. .  Oregon  City Rev.  M.  B.  Starr, .  .  .  Rev.  T.  Condon 

1857— Sept.  3—7 . .  Portland Rev.  C.  Eells Rev.  W.  A.  Tenney 

1858-Sept.     2-6 .  .  Forest  Grove Rev.  O.  Dickinson    j  ^  pD^  c^mberl'n 

1859— Sept.     1—5 . .  Salem Rev.  E.  Walker Rev.  O.  Dickinson 

i860— Sept.     6-10.  .Albany Rev.P.B.Chamberl'n.Rev.  O.  Dickinson 

1861—  .  .Oregon  City* 

1862-Sept.    4—7 .  .  Forest  Grove Rev.  O.  Dickinson .  .  j  |j£;  g"  ^jSjjH, 

1863— Sept.     3—5 .  .  Portland Rev.  S.  H.  Marsh .  . .  Rev.  D.  B.  Gray 

1864— Oct.       1— 4.  .Salem Rev.  S.  H.  Marsh.  .  .  Rev.  D.  B.  Gray 

1865— June    15-18. .  Albany Rev.  E.  Walker Rev.  P.  S.  Knight 

1866— June    21-24.  . Portland Rev.  E.  Walker Rev.  P.  S  Knight 

1867— June    20-24.  -Oregon  City Rev.  D.  B.  Gray Bio.  C.  N.  Terry 

1868— June    18-21 .  .  Forest  Grove Rev.  P.  S.  Knight. .  .  Bro.  C.  N.  Terry 

1869— June    17-20.  .  Salem Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson.  Bro.  C.  N.  Terry 

1870— June    16-19.  -Albany Rev.  H.  Lyman Rev.  W.  J.  Clark 

1871— June    15-19.  .Astoria Rev.  S.  H.  Marsh, ..  Rev.  W.  R.  Joyslin 

1872— June    20-23  •  •  Portland Rev.  O.  Dickinson  .  .  Rev.  W.  R.  Butcher 

1873— June    19-22.  .The  Dalles Prof.  G.  H.  Collier.  .Prof.  A.  J.   Anderson 

l874— June    18-21 .  .Olympia,  W.  T Rev  C.A.Huntington.  Rev.  M.  Eells 

l875— June    17-20. . Salem Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson.Rev.  M.   Eells 

1876— June    15-18.  .Portland Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson.Rev.  M.   Eells 

l877— June    21  24.  .Seattle,  W.  T Prof.  G.  H.  Collier. .  Rev.  M.   Eells 

1878 — June    20-23.  .Oregon  City Pres.  A.  J.  Anderson.  Rev.  M.   Eells 

1879— June    19  22 .  .  Forest  Grove Bro.  O.  F.  Sites Rev.  M.   Eells 

1880— June    17-20.  .Astoria Rev.  R.  S.  Stubbs. .  .Rev.  M.  Eells 

Registrars.  — 1867-70— C.  N.   Terry.     1871-75— W.   R.  Butcher.    1876-79— H. 
Lyman.      1880—  A.  W.  Bower,  Bro.  Geo.  H.  Himes. 

Assistant  Clerk,  1877-8. 

Preachers. 

Date.  Associational  Sermon.  Communion  Sermon. 

1848 G.  H.  Atkinson E.  Walker. 

1849 H.  Clark ' 

l850 G.  H.  Atkinson— Is.  9:4 H.  H.  Spalding— Eph.  1:7. 

'851 No  record No  record. 

1852 No  record No  record. 

1853 E.  Walker— Col.  3:17 No  record. 

1854 O.  Dickinson tC  Eells.     H.  Lyman. 

1855...    .    H.  H.  Spalding — Dan.  7:23-26..  .  .G.  H.  Atkinson. 

"  Was  selected  and  it  was  probably  held.    No  record. 

t  Appointed  the  year  before,  but.there  is  no  record  stating  who  preached. 


Congregational  Association.  23 

Datr.  Associational Sermon.  Communion  Sermon. 

1850 P-  B.  Chamberlain No  record. 

1857 O.  Dickinson — 1  let.  5:12 H.  Lyman — Col.  1:24. 

1858 W.  A.  Tenney— Acts  5:8 P.  P.  Chamberlain— Lam.    1  :I2. 

1859 G.  H.  Atkinson— .Matt.  18:1-20.  .  .M.  B.  Starr— Phil.  3:13,14- 

i860 P.  B.  Chamberlain — 1  Cor.  14:40.  .*  E.  Walker.      O.  Dickinson. 

1861 *  H.  Lyman.      T.  Condon *  W.  A.  Tenney.     O.  Dickinson. 

1862 No  record No  record. 

1863 H.  Lyman *  T.  Condon. 

1864 S.  H.  Marsh T.  Condon. 

1865 C.  Eells H.  Lyman. 

1866 E.  Walker O.  Dickinson. 

1867 T.  Condon— 2  Pet.  3:3,4 D.  B.  Gray— Col.  2:3. 

1868 P.  S.  Knight— Matt.  13:52 O.  Dickinson— Acts  3:19. 

1869   D.  B.  Cray— Rom.  8:37 T.  Condon— John  16:22-30. 

1870 E.  Gerry S.  H.  Marsh,  D.D. 

1871 W.  K.  Butcher — John  6:44 H.  Lyman — James  2:1-9. 

1872 P.  S.  Knight— Heb.  12:27 *  E.  Gerry.     W.  R.  Butcher. 

1873 W.  A.  Tenney W.  R.  Butcher. 

1874 C.  Eells,  John  4:35-Matt.  9:37, 38.  E.  Walker. 

1875 J.  D.  Eaton  — 1  Cor.  4:2 G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D. —John  20:28. 

1876 W.  R.  Butcher— Mark  9:40 J.  F.  Ellis. 

1877 D.  B.  Gray — 2  Chron.  157 J.  A.  Cruzan — Gal.  6:14. 

1878 |.  F.  Ellis— John  1:47 T.  Condon. 

1879 R.  S.  Stubbs— Matt.  16:1-3 p-  -s-  Knight— Gal.  6:14. 

1880 C.  Eells— Mark  16:15 D-  B-  Gray— Heb.  12:28. 

Statistical  Reports. 

None  of  these  have  been  kept  except  when  the  minutes  have 
Ween  printed.  When  the  association  was  organized  the  churches  of 
Forest  Grove,  Oregon  City  and  Calipooia  (Pres.)  were  the  only 
ones  connected  with  the  body  which  existed  and  probably  did  not 
number  more  than  forty  or  riftv   members. 

Statistical  Tables  Nos.  1  and  2  are  compiled  from  the  summaries 
of  the  published  reports,  but  many  of  them  are  quite  imperfect. 

'Appointed  the  year  before,  but  there  is  no  record  stating  who  preached. 


24 


Congregational  Association. 


Statistical  Table  No.  1. 


Year. 


i857- 


1859  ■ 

i860. 

1864* 

1865. 

1866. 

1867 

1868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873- 

1874. 

1875. 

1876., 

1877., 

1878., 

1879. 


Members. 


Received.  Dismissed 


94 

53 

105 


203 

•  I  284 

1 191  207 

123,  217 

94  177 

155,  260 


166  234  400 

166  231  413 

184  243:  427 

189  276  465 

189  274!  463 

83  "5  373 

205  311  534 

217  354  586 

241  392  636 

300  491  791 

329  528  857 

355  572  936 

409  638  1045 

i88ot.  390;  645  1035 


92 

83 
126 

213 

264 


e 

0 

V 

<2Z 

0 

H-l 

PL, 

^4 

11 

10 

14 

10 

16 

9 

26 

9 

16 

23 

32 

24 

"85 

1  1 

25 

13 

39 

23 

39 

a  <u  x  o 


.22 

320 


2  24 
225 


3  15  422 

5  17!  224 


109!  2  13I 

40  4  14 

52  4|l6j 

62!  61 31 

28!  4  Hi 

30  5I161 

60  5I16, 


15 
23 
40 
38 
42 
114 

49,     95    6  33    4  43 
79    175    848    359 


7i 

72 

146 


21 
223 
125 

.[28 

14 


Bap-  Sunday 
t'ms.  School. 


I  « 


W 


2£ 


5  13 

•  9 


175!  175 
238;  238 
202  202 
242!  242 
368  368 
530  53° 


812 
492 1 
738| 
779 

845! 
703! 
795! 
901 


21;  948    798!  183 

25  125310911  314 

171152312  1094!  349 

37136  1617  1383  392 


103!   187:  748  12I6738  37  2114  ;i668!  388 
112I   194  10,50  .  .!6o55!36i599  1309!  3°2 


460 
57o 
670 

585 
493 
641 

'980 
480 
700 
910 
740 

725 
820 

483 
897 

1335 
1684 

2257 
2544 
2023 


304 
347 
457 
43i 
602 
697 


*  Forest  Grove,  with  about  50  members,  not  reporting. 

t  Seven  churches  on  Puget  Sound  not  reported,  which  were  reported  the  previous  year. 


Congregational  Association. 


25 


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CHAPTER  TI— EDUCATION. 


|VER  since  the  first  annual  meeting  this  subject  has  often 
come  up  for  consideration,  both  in  a  general  way,  and 
with  specific  reference  to  some  department.  One 
clause  in  the  original  constitution,  which  has  not  been 
changed,  says  that  this  body  "shall  encourage  evangelical  educa- 
cation."  In  regard  to  the  general  subject  the  first  record  was  made 
in  1848,  when  it  was  resolved  that  "we  will  do  all  we  can 
consistently  to  promote  common  school  education."  Two  years  later 
a  discussion  incidentally  arose  in  regard  to  whether  teachers  were 
liberallv  supported,  and  upon  comparison  with  the  payment  of  men 
in  other  kinds  of  business,  it  was  thought  that  they  were. 

In  1859  "it  was  resolved  that  in  the  view  of  this  association  the 
establishment  of  schools  under  constant  religious  influence  is  of 
vital  importance  to  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  in  the  land,  and  we 
recommend  the  employment  of  Christian  teachers,  laymen,  if  pos- 
sible, ministers,  if  need  be,  in  our  schools,  and  we  earnestly  call  the 
attention  of  all  our  churches  and  of  all  Christians  to  this  subject, 
and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  teacher  to  make  reading  of  the 
Bible  one  of  the  religious  exercises  of  his  school.'1  The  same  was 
re-affirmed  the  following  year. 

In  1866  it  was  resolved  that  the  idea  and  practice  of  the  fathers, 
that  education  is  the  handmaid  of  religion,  and  that  the  school  and 
college  should  go  hand  in  hand  with  the  church,  should  be  a  living, 
practical  idea  with  us  in  Oregon,  while  laying  foundations  here, 
and  the  same  was  again  passed  the  next  year.  Religious  teachers 
and  the  Bible  in  the  school  were  again  recommended  in  1868  and 
1870. 

The  next  year  resolutions  were  passed,  stating  that  "  we  hold  it 
to  be  the  privilege  and  the  duty  of  the  people  to  require,  by  law, 
the  education  of  all  the  children,  at  their  option,  as  one  essential 
means  of  public  safety  and  welfare.  That  the  very  liberal  pro- 
vision made  by  the  National  Government  for  public  schools  in 
Oregon  ought  to  be  sacredly  guarded,  and   applied  solely  to  this 


Congregational  Association.  27 


object.  That  the  question  of  moral  or  religious  instruction,  and 
the  use  of  the  Bible  in  our  public  schools,  belongs  properly  to  the 
people  themselves,  in  their  several  districts  to  decide,  and  that  in 
our  judgment  the  moral  condition  and  influence  of  our  public 
schools  compare  favorably  with  that  of  private  or  corporate  schools, 
and  that  the  directors,  and  especially  teachers,  deserve  support  am 
commendation  for  their  high  character  and  faithful  services  gen- 
erally." 

In  1872  Prof.  Anderson  made  a  report  which  took  grounds 
against  "  features  transferred  from  monarchical  governments — some 
of  them  contrary  to  the  genius  of  our  institutions — such  as  com- 
pulsory education,  etc.,  without  the  most  candid  discussion  and  ma- 
ture deliberation."  It  also  condemned  the  position  taken  by  the 
Advance,  at  that  time,  which  allowed  the  Bible  to  be  banished  from 
the  school-room,  and  "  suggested  the  abrogation  of  the  public 
schools  for  pupils  over  ten  years  of  age,  or  those  who  study  any- 
thing above  the  merest  rudiments  of  an  education,  advocating 
private  and  denominational  schools  in  their  stead,  thus  doing  its 
part  toward  the  destruction  of  the  valuable  labor  of  fifty  years."* 

The  next  year  Rev.  J.  D.  Eaton  read  a  report  which  stated  that 
in  this  country  three  things  need  to  be  remedied  before  we  can 
have  the  highest  Christian  culture:  1st. — Indifference  to  scholar- 
ship; 2nd. — Half-baked  scholarship,  both  of  which  are  owing  to 
the  great  desire  for  money;  and,  3rd. — Unconsecrated  scholarship, 
which  is  drawing  our  young  men  away  from  the  ministry  and  in- 
juring the  churches. 

In  1879  the  subject  again  came  up,  and  remarks  were  made  and 
resolutions  adopted  urging  strongly  that  our  education  be  more 
thoroughly  consecrated  to  Christ,  and  in  1880  Rev.  H.  Lyman  read 
an  essay  on  the  subject,  and  resolutions  were  adopted,  which  favored 
industrial  and  moral  training  in  connection  with  intellectual  edu- 
cation. 

Tualatin  Academy  and  Pacific  University. 

The  association  has  not,  however,  been  satisfied  with  general  talk 
on  the  subject,  but  has  labored  for  special  work,  and  chief  in  this 
respect  is  the  institution  at  Forest  Grove,  which  is  really  the  child 
of  Home    Missions  and  this  bodv.     Before   Dr.  Atkinson  came  to 


*A  change  of  the  editors  of  the   Advance,  since  that  time,  has  completely  changed  its 
position  on  this  subject 


28  Congregational  Association. 


this  coast,  Dr.  Baldwin,  Secretary  of  the  Society  for  the  Promotion 
of  Collegiate  and  Theological  Education  at  the  West,  suggested  to 
him  to  plant  an  academy,  which  should  grow  into  a  college,  and  at 
the  first  annual  meeting  at  Oregon  City,  September  21  and  22, 
184S,  it  was  "  resolved,  that  it  is  expedient  to  found  an  academy  under 
our  patronage,"  and  "  it  was  thought  that  the  Tualatin  Plains  is 
the  most  favorable  location."  "  After  continued  discussion  it  was 
resolved  that  we  will  appoint  trustees,  who  shall  locate  an  academy, 
become  incorporated,  and  attend  to  its  interests.  The  moderator 
and  clerk  were  appointed  a  committee  of  nomination.  The  com- 
mittee reported,  Rev.  H.  Clark,  Hiram  Clark,  Esq.,  P.  H.  Hatch, 
Esq.,  Rev.  L.  Thompson,  Wm.  H.  Gray,  Esq.,  Alvan  T.  Smith, 
Esq.,  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  James  Moore,  Esq.,  O.  Russel,  Esq. 
The  report  was  accepted  and  adopted.  It  was  resolved  that  a  ma- 
jority of  the  officers,  with  as  many  of  the  trustees  as  may  be  present, 
at  any  regular  meeting,  be  a  quorum.  Rev.  Harvey  Clark  was 
chosen  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson, 
secretary,  A.  T.  Smith,  Esq.,  treasurer,  Hiram  Clark,  Esq.,  auditor. 
Resolved,  that  the  secretary  make  known  the  doings  of  this  as- 
sociation in  reference  to  an  academy,  and  solicit  funds  from  the 
states.  Resolved,  that  the  trustees  meet  at  the  store  of  H.  Clark, 
Esq.,  to-morrow  at  9  o'clock  a.m." 

Thus  the  institution  was  born,  after  which  it  was  mainly  left  to 
care  for  itself.  But  in  185 1  it  was  voted  "  that,  in  view  of  the  need 
of  institutions  of  learning  of  a  high  order  both  for  males  and 
females,  and  in  view  of  the  limited  information  which  Eastern 
churches  have  of  Oregon,  the  association  recommend  one  of  the 
brethren  to  return  to  the  East  this  year,  and  present  these  causes 
before  friends  East  and  solicit  aid."  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson  was  so 
appointed,  and  went  East  in  1852. 

In  1856  the  denominational  question  having  arisen,  it  was  "  re- 
solved that  this  association  has  no  wish  or  purpose  to  establish  or 
support  educational  institutions  for  sectarian  purposes.  That  in  our 
judgment  ever}'  such  institution,  to  fulfill  the  high  ends  of  truth  and 
intelligence,  should  be  free  from  ecclesiastical  control,  but  that  they 
should  be  controlled  by  religious  and  evangelical  boards  of  trust. 
That  it  is  not  only  the  privilege  but  the  duty  of  the  members  and 
churches  of  this  association  to  aid  and  sustain  institutions  so  con- 
trolled and  established." 


Congregational  Association.  39 


The  next  year  the  body  thoroughly  approved  Prof.  Lyman's  ac- 
ceptance of  a  professorship  in  Pacific  University,  and  voted  "that 
this  association  look  with  deep  interest  at  the  institution  at  the 
Plains  as  designed  to  accomplish  for  Oregon  the  great  work  of  col- 
legiate education,  and  would  recommend  it  to  the  prayers  of  the 
churches  of  Oregon,  and  to  the  care  and  support  of  the  friends  of 
truth  at  the  East,  and  especially  the  Collegiate  Society." 

In  185S,  the  attention  of  the  ministers  was  directed  to  the  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  now  observed  throughout  the  land,  viz.:  the 
last  Thursday  of  February,  and  were  requested  to  observe  it  with 
special  reference  to  Pacific  University. 

In  1859,  i860  and  1863,  the  association  earnestly  commended  the 
institution  to  the  support  and  sympathy  of  all  our  ministers,  churches 
and  congregations,  and  in  1S66,  in  addition  to  this  recommendation, 
a  standing  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  visit  the  institution 
at  each  commencement  and  report  their  observations.  The  next 
year  this  committee  reported  at  length  in  regard  to  its  condition, 
and  while  deploring  its  situation  as  being  difficult  of  access,  recom- 
mended it  earnestly  to  those  desiring  an  education,  on  account  of 
its  competent  and  sympathizing  instructors,  large  library,  philo- 
sophical apparatus,  and  pleasant  surroundings.  But  in  1S6S,  it 
made  no  report,  and  at  the  request  of  Dr.  Marsh,  was  discontinued. 

The  report  on  education  for  1S73,  says  that  to  prevent  unconse- 
crated  scholarship,  "to  the  Forest  Grove  church,  we  turn  as  to  the 
church  which  is  entrusted  with  a  special  charge.  To  it,  including 
professors  in  its  membership,  must  we  look  to  do  its  part  to  prevent 
the  college  from  sending  forth  each  year  a  company  of  learned 
skeptics — unconsecrated  scholars."  The  same  year  the  following 
resolutions  passed  by  the  trustees  of  Tualatin  Academy  and 
Pacific  University,  were  read  by  the  clerk  (A.  J.  Anderson),  who, 
speaking  as  a  member  of  the  faculty,  emphasized  the  resolutions  by 
requesting  Congregationalists  represented  in  the  association  to  give 
their  prayers,  their  converted  youth,  and  their  friendly  visits  to  the 
institution : 

"Whereas,  Tualatin  Academy  and  Pacific  University  is  not  and 
cannot  be  by  its  corporate  law  or  constitution  under  any  state  or 
ecclesiastical  control ; 

"Resolved,  That  it  will  welcome  the  friendly  sympathy  and  aid  of 
the  state,  and  of  any  and  all  denominations  of  Christians. 


30  Congregational  Association. 


That  by  virtue  of  its  origin,  it  seeks  and  expects  the  fraternal 
co-operation,  especially  of  all  the  Congregational  churches  of  our 
state  and  region. 

After  discussion,  the  following  resolution,  offered  by  T.  Condon, 
was  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  this  association    accept   and  cordially  respond  to 

the   resolutions   read   from    the  board  of  trustees    of  T.    A.  and  P. 

U;  and   that   we  cheerfully   promise  the  sympathy  for  which  they 

ask,  and   that  we  instruct  our  committee  on  publication  of  minutes 

'to  have  a  copy  of  those  resolutions  published  with  the  minutes." 

Nothing  more  was  done  until  1878,  when  by  request  of  some, 
who  were  dissatisfied  in  regard  to  the  denominational  relations  of 
the  college,  the  question  was  put  on  the  programme:  "  Ought  we 
to  have  a  college — an  institution  of  higher  education,  so  adminis- 
tered as  to  secure  the  sympathy,  support  and  patronage  of  our  Con- 
gregational churches  and  families."  The  chairman  and  one  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  appointed  to  open  this  subject  were  not 
present,  and  the  other  member  did  not  come  prepared  to  open  it. 
After  a  little  discussion,  in  which  some  expressed  the  opinion  that 
we  have  a  college  sufficiently  Congregational,  others,  that  it  would 
soon  become  so,  and  others,  still,  that  something  ought  to  be  done, 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  trustees  of  T.  A.  & 
P.  U.,to  ascertain  if  they  were  willing  to  come  into  sympathetic  and 
working  relations  with  our  Congregational  churches;  but  the 
next  year  the  committee  made  no  report  on  the  subject. 
Whitman     Seminary. 

In  18^9,  the  association  expressed  its  judgment  in  reference  to 
Rev.  C.  Eells  going  to  Wailatpu,  in  the  following  resolution: 

"  That,  in  the  judgment  of  this  association,  the  contemplated 
purpose  of  Bro.  C.  Eells  to  remove  to  Wailatpu,  to  establish  a 
Christian  school  at  that  place,  to  be  called  the  Whitman  Seminary, 
in  memory  of  the  noble  deeds  and  great  worth,  and  in  fulfillment  of 
the  benevolent  plans  of  the  lamented  Dr.  Whitman  and  wife,  and 
his  further  purpose  to  act  as  a  home  missionary  in  the  Walla  Walla 
valley,  meets  our  cordial  approbation,  and  shall  receive  our  earnest 
support." 

Academies. 

In    1872,   a  resolution  was  passed:     "That  a  committee  of  three 


Congregational   Association.  51 

be  appointed  by  this  association  to  consult  with  reference  to  acade- 
mies, and  to  do  what  in  their  judgment  may  be  expedient  towards 
budding  such  institutions.'"  And  in  1878,  another  committee  was 
appointed  for  the  same  purpose.  It  was  hoped  by  some  that  such 
accademies  might  prove  to  be  feeders  to  Pacific  University,  but 
neither  committee  found  affairs  so  favorable  as  to  make  anv  report. 
The  report  on  education  for  1S72  spoke  of  such  academies,  but 
expressed  the  opinion  that  "  no  such  preparatory  school  should  be 
undertaken  without  sufficient  endowment,  else  it  might  linger  along 
for  years,  only  to  impede  the  progress  of  its  neighboring  district 
school,  and  end  at  last  in  total  failure." 

Theological     School. 

In  1863,  a  committee  of  three  was  appointed  on  theological 
studies,  whose  duties  were  to  receive  applications  of  Christian 
brethren  who  may  wish  to  pursue  a  course  of  theological  study, 
and  to  arrange  a  programme  of  studies  for  such  students,  advise, 
encourage  and  examine  them  at  proper  time,  and  report  annually 
to  this  body,  01  even  to  call  special  meetings,  if  thought  best,  for 
the  examination  and  licensure  of  candidates;  but  the  committee 
seems  never  to  have  made  any  report,  and  in  1877,  the  Ministerial 
Association,  revived,  took  this  very  appropriately  as  a  part  of  its 
business. 

In  1872,  in  view  of  the  difficulty  of  securing  and  retaining  min- 
isters among  us  from  the  East,  and  that  young  men  among  us  need 
encouragement  to  begin  a  course  of  theological  study,  a  com- 
mittee of  three  was  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
providing  for  a  theological  school  in  this  state,  and,  if  in  their 
judgment,  best,  to  take  the  preliminary  steps  to  secure  a  location 
and  subscriptions  therefor,  and  to  receive  applications  of  Christian 
young  men  to  enter  upon  such  a  course  of  study  and  aid  them  in 
it;  but  neither  did  this  committee  make  any  report. 

Nothing  more  was  done  until  1S78,  when  it  was  resolved  as  the 
"•judgment  of  the  association  that  the  Christian  families  and  churches 
here  represented  desire  a  branch,  or  professorship  of  Christian  and 
Theological  Science  in  one  of  our  colleges,  for  the  education  of  our 
sons  in  such  studies;"  and  the  following  year  the  report  on  educa- 
tion urged  some  such  plan,  whereupon  a  committee  was  appointed 
to   inquire  "  whether   a  theological   school   or  department  can    be 


Congregational  Association. 


connected  with  any  of  our  existing  colleges  or  universities,  and  that 
this  inquiry  he  made  first  of  the  trustees  of  Tualatin  Academy 
and  Pacific  University;"  and  also,  "if  the  way  is  open  to  take  coun- 
sel upon  the  plan  and  means  to  establish  such  a  theological  school 
or  department."     But  in  1880,  the  committee  made  no  report. 


CHAPTER  III— MORAL  REFORM. 


Dancing  and  other  Amusements. 

jHIS  subject  first  came  before  the  body  in  1S59,  when  the 
following  resolutions  were  passed  almost  unanimously, 
after  a  spirited  discussion: 

"  That  this  association  affectionately  urge  the  churches 
in  our  connection  to  shield  by  every  hallowed  influence  of  then- 
covenant  relation,  the  inexperienced  of  their  membership  from  the 
delusive  dangers  that  often  beset  the  social  gatherings  of  the  young. 
That  in  our  view  the  practice  of  dancing — whether  in  the  parlor, 
the  village  tavern,  or  the  more  public  ball-room — has  been,  and  is 
now,  so  connected  with  many  of  the  vices  of  society,  as  to  make  it 
our  urgent  duty  to  warn  our  churches  against  it." 

In  1S67,  the  subject  was  again  brought  up,  and  it  was  ordered 
that  the  explanation  of  the  covenant,  among  other  things  be  as 
follows:  "It  intends  to  abstain  from  all  evil,  and  all  appearance  of 
evil — 1  Thess.  5:22 — and  thus  to  abstain  from  all  games  of 
chance,  from  balls,  dances,  theatres,  or  any  amusements  or  employ- 
ments, which  bring  dishonor  upon  our  Holy  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ." 

Nothing  more  was  done  until  1S78,  when  the  subject  was  again 
discussed;  and  while  no  definite  action  was  reached,  the  tone  of  the 
remarks  was  almost  unanimously  in  favor  of  the  above  resolutions, 
it  being  said  that  dancing,  as  now  conducted,  is  not  favored  by  the 
Bible,  but  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  health,  and  immoral,  while 
music,  children's  papers  and  the  love  of  Christ,  had  been  found  to 
be  a  successful  substitute  for  it,  and  in  18S0,  the  subject  was  dis- 
cussed in  connection  with  an  essay,  but  no  action  was  taken. 

Divorce. 

In  1855,  this  subject  was  first  considered,  whereupon  the  associa- 
tion,   "  believing  that  the  law  of  Christ  on  this  subject  should  con- 


34 


Congregational  Association. 


trol,  not  only  Christian  churches,  but  also  Christian  communities, 
that  we  recommend  to  all  ministers  of  churches  in  their  action 
as  such  to  make  our  Saviour's  instructions  on  this  subject  their 
rule  of  action;  and  that  we  will  hail  with  peculiar  pleasure  the 
passage  of  laws  relating  to  this,  having  for  their  basis  the  laws 
of  Christ;  that  considering  on  the  one  hand  the  boldness  of  the 
advocates  of  the  immoralities  referred  to  in  the  above  named  reso- 
lution, and  on  the  other,  the  prayer  of  Christ,  that  his  people  might 
be  one,  we  earnestly  recommend  the  united  efforts  of  all  evan- 
gelical Christians  to  prevent  these  immoralities  if  they  do  not  yet 
exist,  and  to  check  and  suppress  such  as  do  exist;  that  we  regard 
ourselves  in  all  the  above  resolutions  as  acting  legitimately  in  the 
field  of  morals,  while  as  ministers,  we  claim  a  perfect  right  to  act 
as  citizens  on  any  civil  question." 

In  1859,  the  subject  of  marrying  divorced  persons  was  settled  as 
follows: 

"  Whereas,  In  the  opinion  of  this  association  the  law  of  God  is 
above  all  human  law; 

And,  Whereas,  Christ  expressly  designates  the  one  and  the 
only  sufficient  ground  on  which  persons  properly  married  may  be 
divorced ;    therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  we  regard  all  divorces,  whether  obtained  by 
judicial  process  or  granted  by  special  act  of  legislation,  for  any  other 
cause  than  that  which  Christ  designates,  as  morally  null  and  void ; 
and  that  ministers  cannot  consistently  marry  again  persons  thus 
divorced." 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  some  of  the  newspapers  called  this 
action  very  blue,  it  was  re-affirmed  the  following  year,  with  the 
addition  of  the  words:  "  while  both  of  the  parties  are  still  living." 

Slavery. 

In  1855,  the  subject  was  first  introduced  and  a  resolution  passed 
condemning  it  as  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  and  our 
republican  institutions,  viewing  with  regret  efforts  to  extend  it, 
as  the  passage  in  Congress  of  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  bill,  and 
promising  to  resist  with  full  ability  in  »all  peaceful  and  Christian 
way  such  efforts,  and  to  labor  in  peaceful  and  legal  ways  to  abolish 
slavery  in  the  way  best,  both  for  the  slave  and  master. 

The    next    year,  in    a    general    way,  anti-slavery    societies  were 


Congregational  Association.  35 


endorsed,  with  a  recommendation  to  the  churches  to  sustain  them 
by  their  prayers,  labors  and  contributions,  which  called  up  the 
question  whether  there  were  any  such  in  Oregon;  this  was  answered 
in  the  negative,  though  several  brethren  testified  as  to  the  need 
of  such,  in  view  of  the  danger  of  this  territory  being  subjected  to 
slavery,  which  was  believed  to  be  yearly  increasing. 

A  year  later,  the  action  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society,  refusing  aid  to  slave-holding  churches,  was  endorsed,  as 
its  funds  were  received  from  those  who  believed  slavery  to  be  sin- 
ful; yet  this  action  was  not  interpreted  to  mean  that  no  aid  would 
be  furnished  to  any  church  in  the  South  where  a  pure  gospel  might 
be  preached. 

In  1S5S,  the  action  of  the  American  Tract  Society  of  New  York, 
refusing  to  publish  anything  either  for  or  against  slavery,  was  con- 
demned with  deep  grief.  That  society  was  urged  to  change  its 
position  and  publish  works  against  it,  it  being  believed  that  it  could 
be  done  without  violation  of  its  constitution  —  (this  being  a  main 
reason  why  the  society  had  taken  this  position) — and  our  churches 
were  recommended  to  withold  their  contributions  and  patronage 
from  it,  which  they  had  previously  given,  and  bestow  them  upon 
the  American  Tract  Society  of  Boston,  while  the  other  society 
should  hold  its  present  position. 

A  year  later,  a  resolution  was  passed  which  stated  that  the  min- 
isters of  this  body  could  not  consistently  invite  into  their  pulpits,  as 
ministers  of  Christ,  persons  known  to  be  actual  slaveholders,  or  the 
advocates  of  the  system. 

The  Sabbath. 

This  subject  is  first  noticed  in  the  minutes  in  1850,  in  Father 
Spalding's  church  report.  At  one  of  his  stations  he  found  eight 
persons  ready  to  be  organized  into  a  church,  but  he  feared  to 
encourage  it,  because  that  Sabbath  visiting  was  common  among 
them,  until  they  should  promise  to  observe  the  da}-  and  hold  family 
worship. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  1855,  that  a  committee  was  appointed 
on  the  subject.  This  committee  reported  in  favor  of  observing  the 
day  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  divine  law  and  our  Saviour's 
instructions,  as  conducive  to  the  highest  welfare  of  every  individual 
family  and  people.     Laws  compelling  people  to  observe  the  day  in 


76  Congregational  Association. 


any  one  way  were  not  favored,  yet  those  were  earnestly  approved 
which  should  tend  to  keep  it  sacred  from  ordinary  business,  and 
protect  sacred  worship,  and  disciplinary  as  well  as  moral  enforce- 
ment of  Sabbath  obligation  was  recommended  to  the  churches  on 
their  members.  The  next  year  the  same  resolutions  were  re-af- 
firmed. 

In  1867  resolutions  were  adopted,  regarding  it  as  the  duty  of 
every  Christian  to  so  arrange  his  affairs,  however  important  his 
business,  that  nothing  should  be  done  which  should  have  the  ap- 
pearance of  violating  the  day,  or  inducing  others  to  do  so,  and  to 
take  their  exercise  and  recreation,  without  devoting  God's  day  to 
them. 

The  report  of  1873  regarded  the  fourth  commandment,  without 
any  doubt,  as  binding,  of  vital  importance  to  a  pure  Christianity, 
and  a  mighty  bulwark  for  the  protection  of  the  righteous,  whose 
defence  is  committed  to  the  church,  who  is  equal  to  the  work,  if 
she  present  an  unbroken  front,  joined  with  holy  earnestness  and 
enlightened  zeal. 

Three  years  later  a  resolution  was  adopted  full  of  gratitude  to 
God  and  commendation  to  the  Centennial  mission,  for  closing  the 
great  exhibition  on  the  Sabbath,  and  emphasizing  a  large  protest 
sent  by  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Portland  against  its  opening  on  that 
day. 

In  1878  and  1879  the  reports  on  the  subject  dealt  largely  on  the 
change  from  the  seventh  day  to  the  first,  but  also  condemned  the 
carrying  and  opening  of  the  mail  on  that  day,  the  running  of  rail- 
roads and  steamers,  family  visiting,  trifling  and  worldly  conver- 
sation, and  church  members  remaining  away  from  church  in 
order  to  read,  even  religious  reading,  but  commended  works  of 
necessity  and  mercy  on  the  day.  Its  rest  was  stated  as  a  necessity 
for  the  body  and  mind,  the  moral  culture  of  families,  neighborhoods, 
and  schools,  for  laborers,  and  work  animals  and  the  nation,  both 
rulers  and  people. 

In  1879  a  paper,  by  request,  was  read,  favoring  the  observance  of 
the  seventh  instead  of  the  first  day,  but  it  contained  only  the  views 
of  the  writer,  among  the  members  of  the  body,  and  for  various 
reasons  it  was  passed  by  without  any  action. 


Congregational  Association.  37 


Temperance. 

This  has  been  a  fruitful  source  of  action,  beginning  with  1848, 
when  the  association  approved  of  temperance  efforts  in  Oregon 
and  promised  to  aid  them  in  every  consistent  manner. 

In  1853  the  territorial  temperance  committee  sent  out  petitions 
asking  for  the  signatures  of  the  legal  voters  in  favor  of  a  prohibitory 
law,  and  also  presented  this  action  to  the  association  for  its  consid- 
eration, whereupon  it  was  heartily  approved,  as  being  the  only  way 
of  fully  suppressing  intemperance,  and  the  ministers  were  urged  to 
work  for  the  law.  The  same  law  was  endorsed  in  1855,  l^5^  ana" 
1857. 

In  1866  the  ministry  and  churches  were  urged  to  continue  in  the 
work  of  total  abstinence,  both  in  and  out  of  the  church,  as  of  the 
greatest  importance  in  preparing  for  a  work  of  grace. 

Reclaiming  the  fallen  and  saving  the  young  was  the  key-note  of 
the  report  for  the  following  year;  the  church  covenant  adopted  by 
the  body  was  interpreted  so  as  to  mean  the  abstaining  from  alco- 
holic liquors  as  a  beverage,  and  the  work  of  the  Good  Templars 
was  endorsed. 

The  reports  for  1868  and  1869,  while  endorsing  temperance 
societies,  believed  the  church  and  Sabbath  school  to  be,  or  at  least 
ought  to  be,  made  the  very  best  of  such  societies.  Agitate  the  sub- 
ject to  promote  temperance,  and  promote  temperance  to  "  prepare 
the  way  of  the  Lord." 

The  Ohio  law,  as  just  to  all  parties,  was  welcomed  in  1871,  open 
temperance  societies  were  recommended,  and  the  ministry  were  re- 
quested to  preach  on  the  subject  on  the  second  Sabbath  in  Sep- 
tember. 

By  the  following  year  there  were  evidently  some  who  were 
tired  of  so  much  discussion  of  the  kind,  and  a  motion  was  made  to 
dispense  with  the  committee  on  the  subject,  but  after  a  warm  dis- 
cussion, the  motion  was  lost,  the  opinion  prevailing  that  the 
churches  have  a  work  to  do  in  that  line. 

In  1873  the  core  of  the  discussion  centered  on  vigorous  attacks 
on  the  enemy,  but  more  in  love,  and  less  in  bitterness. 

By  the  following  year  the  women's  praying  leagues  had  been 
organized,  and  created  great  excitement,  especially  in  Portland, 
and  while  the  association  rejoiced  in  the  good  done  by  them,  yet  it 


38  Congregational    Association. 


neither  felt  like  fully  endorsing  this  as  the  best  method  of  work, 
nor  either  of  condemning,  but  thought  that  to  all  should  be  granted 
"  liberty  in  doubtful  things  and  charity  in  all  things,"  and  that  those 
who  could  not  approve  any  particular  mode  of  work  should  not  be 
therefore  denounced  as  enemies  to  the  cause,  but  encouraged  to 
work  in  the  way  they  think  best. 

The  cause  of  the  evil  was  brought  up  in  1S7S,  sin,  and  the  con- 
sequent remedy,  Christ, — and  although  it  was  stated  that  societies 
and  laws  should  be  encouraged,  yet  the  Lord  Jesus,  both  as  an  ex- 
ample to  reformers,  and  a  Saviour  for  the  inebriate,  was  held  up  as 
above  everything  else. 

The  next  year  the  Blue  Ribbon  movement,  as  carried  on  within 
our  bounds,  was  highly  commended,  and  besides,  the  association 
pledged  itself  to  aid  every  effort  to  put  the  civil  damage  law  of 
Massachusetts  on  our  statute  books,  and  in  1880  this  latter  was  re- 
affirmed. 


CHAPTER  IV.— CHURCH  WORK. 


The  Prayer  Meeting. 

|LTHOUGH  this  subject  has  never  been  much  discussed, 
the  body  has  set  a  practical  example  of  its  faith  in  it 
by  holding  one  or  more  during  each  day  in  even'  ses- 
sion. Frequently  these  have  been  held  at  sunrise,  and 
sometimes  a  little  later,  thus  consecrating  the  first  part,  and  with  it 
the  whole  day  to  Christ.  It  has  been  found,  however,  that  but  few 
attended  these  early  meetings,  or  any  early  meetings,  whatever 
might  be  the  subject,  hence  latterly  they  have  been  held  near  the 
middle  of  each  daily  session,  as  being  the  time  when  most  were 
present — a  numerous  attendance  being  desired — the  body  feeling  the 
prayer  meetings  to  be  the  most  important  of  the  session.  Special 
action  was  taken  in  regard  to  this  in  1879. 

Sabbath    Schools. 

In  1866  the  first  action  was  taken  in  which  they  were  earnestly 
commended  to  the  churches,  in  order  to  bring  Bible  truth  to  bear 
on  the  minds  of  the  children,  and  teachers'  meetings  were  men- 
tioned as  a  most  important,  if  not  indispensable,  part  of  the  work. 

Two  years  later  it  was  recommended  that  the  Sabbath  schools 
of  our  own  and  other  denominations  call  a  State  Sabbath  School 
Convention,  and  in  1869  the  committee  reported  encouragingly  be- 
cause of  an  increase  in  our  Sabbath  schools  from  492  the  year  be- 
fore to  727  of  that  year. 

In  1 87 1  it  was  resolved  that  "  the  Sabbath  school  is  purely  the 
child  of  the  church,  and  should  be  so  cherished  ;  and  in  order  to  its 
full  success,  every  member  of  each  church  should  be  a  working 
member  therein."  The  report  two  years  later  spoke  of  the  growth 
of  Sabbath  schools  during  a  century,  from  being  designed  mainly 
to  provide  instruction  for  the  poor  and  degraded,  to  being  adopted 
by  all  denominations  of  Christians  as  the  chief  means  of  religious 
instruction  for  the  young,  with  all  its  accompaniments  of  literature, 


40  Congregational  Association. 

music  and  able  officers.  Hence  its  importance  was  spoken  of, 
especially  its  aid  in  planting  new  churches. 

In  1S77  a  l°ng  report  was  read  and  published,  which  recom- 
mended the  committing  to  memory  of  verses,  the  use  of  the  black- 
board, a  large  amount  of  music,  a  good  library  and  S.  S.  papers, 
sympathy  with  the  children,  system  in  the  work,  teachers'  meet- 
ings, and  S.  S.  conventions.  Further  remarks  favored  a  good  Bible 
class  of  parents  and  grandparents,  as  a  means  of  keeping  the  older 
children  in  school,  earnest  work  for  the  conversion  of  the  children, 
steady  work  in  at  least  thirty  minutes  of  lesson  teaching,  and  the 
committing  to  memory  of  the  S.  S.  hymns. 

Two  years  later  the  report  thought  that  there  was  enough  ma- 
chinery and  intellectual  food  in  the  Sabbath  schools,  and  yet  that 
they  lacked  something — conversions — in  as  great  numbers  as  there 
should  be  ;  which  is  to  be  remedied  by  the  employment  of  none 
but  consistent  Christians  as  teachers,  giving  heart  work  the  prece- 
dence of  head  work,  and  taking  Christ  as  the  best  example  of  a 
teacher.  In  1880,  resolutions  suitable  to  the  centennial  year  of 
Sabbath  schools,  were  adopted,  urging  their  care  on  the  church, 
parents,  officers  and  teachers. 

Church  Finances. 

The  first  record  made  was  in  1871,  when  free  will  offerings, 
brought  to  the  house  of  God  as  an  act  of  worship,  were  recom- 
mended as  a  convenient  and  scriptural  mode  of  raising  money. 

In  1S76  the  subject  was  again  opened,  and  the  weekly  envelope 
method  was  highly  recommended  by  the  association  to  the  churches, 
and  the  next  year  the  report  of  the  committee  recommended  the 
contribution  box,  as  an  educator  in  the  grace  of  giving,  that  giving 
may  be  regarded  as  a  part  of  worship,  to  raise  money  promptly, 
to  save  some  good  man  from  martyrdom  in  the  collector's  office, 
and  as  a  measure  of  Christian  prosperity.  Some,  however,  had 
difficulties  on  the  subject,  and  some  had  found  the  subscription 
paper  better. 

Systematic  Giving. 

In  1875  a  report  was  read  and  published  which  favored  this,  from 
the  commands  and  promises  of  God,  his  threatenings  against  covet- 
ousness  and  selfishness.  The  amount  to  be  given  and  way  of  col- 
lecting it  were  left  an  open  question,  to  be  determined  by  circum- 


Congregational  Association.  41 


stances,  though  one-tenth  of  the  income  at  least,  was  urged,  but  it 
was  recommended  that  ministers  preach  on  the  subject,  set  a  right 
example,  and  that  children  be  early  trained  to  it;  whereupon  the 
association  "recommend  to  the  churches  a  system  of  weekly  offer- 
ings for  all  Christian  and  benevolent  purposes,  in  accordance  with 
the  apostolic  rule  as  expressed  in  1  Cor.  16:  1,  2. 

In  1878  the  committee  on  this  subject,  who  had  worked  earnestly 
for  it  during  the  whole  year,  reported  that  seven  churches  had 
adopted  the  weekly  plan  of  offerings,  seven  more  had  some  dif- 
ferent plan,  and  four  had  no  plan  ;  that  thirteen  had  increased  their 
contributions  during  the  year,  four  had  decreased,  and  four  had 
given  nothing,  and  that  the  whole  amount  contributed  had  in- 
creased from  $1,037.83,  in  1867,  to  $3,722.17,  in  1878.  In  1S77  the 
churches  had  voted  to  raise  one  dollar  per  member  during  the  year 
for  Home  Missions,  but  only  four  had  kept  their  pledge.  Five 
churches  had  adopted  the  plan  of  weekly  offerings  during  the 
year.  The  need  of  a  better  appreciation  of  the  vital  importance  of 
this  matter,  and  the  adoption  ot  some  systematic  plan,  and  the 
thorough  working  of  that  plan,  were  urged  upon  the  churches  and 
ministers.  The  association  heartily  approved  the  weekly  and 
monthly  plan  of  offerings,  and  commended  the  efforts  of  the 
standing  committee  to  the  churches. 

By  1S79  four  more  churches  had  adopted  the  plan  of  weekly  of- 
ferings, and  much  of  what  had  been  said  in  previous  years  was 
emphasized;  it  being  the  idea  that  "line  upon  line,  line  upon 
line,  precept  upon  precept,  precept  upon  precept,"  was  necessary 
to  success  in  this  object. 

Fasting  and  Prayer. 

.  But  once,  according  to  the  records,  has  a  day  for  this  purpose 
been  appointed  by  this  body.  This  was  in  1S5S.  The  association 
had  read  with  profound  gratitude  of  the  great  revivals  in  the  East, 
and  appointed  the  first  Thursday  of  November  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  for  a  like  rich  blessing  on  this  coast,  and  invited  other 
denominations  to  join  in  the  observance  of  it. 

The  same  year,  the  attention  of  the   churches  was   called  to  the 
last   Thursday  in    February,  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  col- 
leges, observed  throughout  the  land,  and  it  was  recommended  that 
it  be  especially  observed  with  reference  to  Pacific  University. 
.     4 


.p  Congregational    Association. 


Protracted    Meetings. 

In  1855  the  judgment  of  the  association  being  that  two-days', 
four-days',  and  protracted  meetings  "  had  been  usually  blessed  of 
God  to  the  salvation  of  souls  and  the  edification  of  the  church,"  it 
was  thought  that  the  churches  had  been  deficient  in  these  special 
efforts,  and  it  was  recommended  that  every  church  hold  annually 
one  or  more  such  meetings,  and  for  the  Home  Missionary  agent 
for  Oregon  to  attend  and  co-operate  at  such  times. 

In  1879  the  question  of  holding  a  similar  meeting  near  Forest 
Grove  was  referred  to  a  committee,  who  reported,  asking  for 
further  time. 


CHAPTER   V.— QUESTIONS  OF  ADVICE. 


Baptism. 

[HE  only  time  that  this  subject  has  been  brought  up 
except  in  connection  with  the  creed,  was  in  1S74,  when 
it  was  put  on  record  "that  there  is  no  pastor  in  our 
connection,  who  is  unwilling  to  baptize  by  immersion, 
where  that  mode  is  a  matter  of  conscience  with  the  candidate  • 
that  there  is  no  church  in  our  connection  that  asks  for  the  baptism 
of  the  children  of  those  who  have  no  faith  in  infant  baptism  ;  that 
whatever  differences  of  views  on  the  mode  of  baptism  may  exist 
between  those  who  give  credible  evidence  of  lovalty  to  the  Master, 
they  have  all  the  rights  of  children  and  heirs  in  any  and  every 
branch  of  the  church  to  which  the  Providence  of  God  may  assign 
them,  our  rule  across  these  minor  differences  being  in  '  certain  things 
unity,  in  doubtful  things,  liberty,  in  all  things  charity.'" 

Church    Manual. 

In    1874  Roy's  Manual    was    recommended    for   the    use  ot  the 

churches. 

Creed. 

The  subject  of  a  creed  to  be  recommended  to  the  churches  was 
first  put  upon  the  docket  in  September,  1850,  for  subsequent  con- 
sideration, and,  at  an  adjourned  meeting  held  December,  1850,  the 
articles  of  faith  of  the  Iowa  Association  and  of  the  Theological 
Institute,  of  Connecticut,  were  read.  Some  discussion  arose  in  re- 
gard to  some  objectionable  terms,  against  which  there  is  an  ignorant 
and  strong  prejudice,  and  while  it  was  not  thought  best  to  lose  a 
good  word  for  this  reason,  yet  it  was  deemed  important  to  express  ideas 
in  language  which  would  not  be  misinterpreted.  The  articles  of 
the  Iowa  Association,  with  a  few  alterations  and  additions,  were 
adopted  for  the  time  being,  but  are  no  where  on  record. 

The  next  year  these  articles  were  laid  aside  and  those  of  the 
Presbytery    of    Plattsburg,    New     York,    being    amended,     were 


44  Congregational  Association. 


adopted,  and  it  was  moved  that  they  be  published  in  the  Home 
Missionary,  but  are  not  on  record.  As  the  subject  did  not  come  up 
again  for  many  years,  it  is  presumable,  however,  that  those  pub- 
lished with  the  minutes  of  1857  are  the  same  as  those  then  adopted, 
and  which  were  subsequently  published  in  185S,  1859,  1S60,  1864 
and  1866,  and  which  are  as  follows  : 

Articles  of  Faith. 

Article  i.  You  believe  that  Jehovah,  the  one  only  living'  and 
true  God,  is  a  Spirit,  self-existent,  immutable,  infinite  in  power, 
knowledge,  wisdom,  holiness,  justice,  goodness,  mercy  and  truth  ; 
that  he  exists  in  three  persons,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Spirit,  who  possess  the  same  nature,  and  are  equal  in  every  divine 
perfection  ;  that  he  made,  preserves,  and  governs  all  things  for  his 
own  glory  ;  and  that  in  whatsoever  comes  to  pass,  he  accomplishes 
the  eternal  counsel  of  his  own  will,  in  such  a  way  that  man  is  a 
free  and  accountable  agent. 

[Dent.  vi.  4  ;  Isa.  xiv.  5 ;  1  Cor.  viii.  4,  6. J     [Ps.  xc.  2,  and  cxlvii.  5  ;  1  Tim.  i.   17  . 

I  John  i.  5  and  iv.  8  ;  James  i.  17.]  [1  John  v.  7  ;  Matt,  xxviii.  19  ;  2  Cor.  xiii.  14; 
John  xiv.   16,  26.]     [Col.  1,  16;  Prov.    xvi.  4;   Ps.   xix.  1;  Dan.  iv.  34,  35;  Eph.  i. 

II  ;  Isa.  xiv.  5,  7,  and  xlvi.  10.]     [Isa.  x.  12  ;  Acts  ii.  23;   Phil.  ii.  12,   13. 

Art.  2.  You  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament  are  given  by  the  inspiration  of  God,  and  are  the  suf- 
ficient and  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

[Peter  i,  19,  21  :  2  Tim.  iii.  16,  17  ;  Psalms  xii.  6,  and  cxix.  105  ;  Isaiah  viii. 
20  and  xvii.   11.] 

Art.  3.  You  believe  that  God  created  man  upright  ;  that  man 
freely  sinned  and  fell  ;  that,  in  consequence  of  the  original  offense, 
all  mankind,  in  their  natural  state,  are  destitute  of  holiness,  and  are 
thus  totally  depraved  in  heart,  and  under  the  curse  of  the  Divine 
law. 

[Genesis  i.  26,  27  ;  Eccl.  vii.  29.]  [Genesis  iii.  1,  13.]  [Rom.  v.  12,  15,  18;  Gen. 
vi.  5;  Ps.  liii.  1,  3;  Eccl.  viii.  11  ;  Jer.  xvii.  9;  Romanslii.  3,  19  and  viii.  7  ;  Matt, 
xxiii.  33  ;  Rom.  i.  18;  John  iii.  36;   Eph.  ii.  3.] 

Art.  4.  You  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  both  God  and  man  in 
two  distinct  natures,  and  one  person  forever  ;  that  by  his  sufferings 
and  death  he  made  a  complete  atonement  for  the  sins  of  the  world; 
that  he  rose  from  the  dead,  and  ascended  into  Heaven,  as  the 
mediator  between  God  and  man  ;  that  through  him  salvation  is 
freely  offered  to  all  mankind,  and  that  there  is  salvation  in  no  other. 


Congregational  Association.  45 


[Matthew  i.  23;  John  i.  9,  14;  Col.  ii.  9;  1  Tim.iii.  10  •  Phil.  ii.  5,  ri;  Isa.  ix.  9; 
Rom.  ix.  5;  Heb.  1,  passim;  Matt.  xxii.  45;  Rev.  xxii.  16.  J  |  John  iii.  14,  16;  2 
Cor.  v.  21;  Gal.  iii.  13;  Heb.  ii.  9;  1  John  ii.  2;  Rom.  iii.  25,  26,  and  v.  18,  16.] 
[Rom.  iv.  25;  Heb.  vii.  25,  and  ix.  24;  1  Tim.  ii.  5,  6;  Rom.  viii.  34.  |  [Isa.  Iv.  I, 
4;  Rev.  xxii.  16;  John  vii.  37,  38:  Acts,  xbi,  38,  39. J  [Acts  iv,  15,  and  x.  41,  43; 
John  xvi.  6;  I  Cor.  iii.   II;  I.  John  v.   [I,   12;  Rom.  x.  4.  | 

Art.  5.  You  believe  that  all  who  obtain  salvation  through 
Christ  were  "chosen  in  him  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  ;" 
that  by  the  special  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  regenera- 
tion, they  are  made  willing  to  receive  him  in  the  faith  of  the 
gospel,  and  that,  having  received  him,  thev  are  justified  by  grace 
through  faith  and  have  the  same  promise  of  being  preserved  by 
the  same  grace  in  new  and  holy  obedience  unto  eternal  life. 

[Ps.  xxii,  30;  John  vi.  37,  39,  and  ix.  5,  6;  Eph.  i.  4,  5 ;  2  Thessalonians  ii.  13. 
2  Tim.  i.  9.]  [Psalms  ex.  3;  John  i,  12,  13:  Acts  xvi.  14;  1  Cor.  iii.  5,  7,  and 
xv.  10;  Eph.  ii.  8,  10. J  [Acts  xiii.  39;  Rom.  iii.  4,  28;  Titus  iii.  5,  7.]  [Isa.  Iv.  3; 
Jeremiah  xxxii.  40;  John  iv.  14,  and  x.  27,  29;  Roin.  viii.  38,  39;  Phil.  i.  5;  Heb. 
xiii.  5;  1  Peter  I,  5.] 

Art.  6.  You  believe  that  Christ  has  a  church  on  earth  ;  that  in 
its  visible  form  it  comprehends  all  those  who  credibly  profess  the 
faith  of  the  gospel  ;  that  its  sacraments  are  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper  ;  that  Baptism  is  to  be  administered  not  only  to  believers, 
but  also  to  the  children  of  their  household,  and  the  Lord's  Supper 
to  such  as  are  in  good  and  regular  standing  in  some  evangelical 
church. 

[Matthew  xvi.  18;  Acts  ii.  41,  47.J  [Acts  ii.  47,  and  v.  19;  Rom.  xi.  20,  23;  1 
Cor.  ii.  1:  Eph.  v.  25,  27.]  [Matthew  xxviii.  19;  Acts  x.  47,  48;  Matt,  x.xvi.  26, 
23;  1  Cor.  xi.  23,  29.]  [Gen.  xvii.  7,  10,  11,  with  Galatians  iii.  7,  9,  14:  Eph.  iii. 
6;  Rom.  xi.  15,  24;  Isa.  lxvi.  23;  Jer.  \xx.  20;  Acts  ii.  39;  1  Cor.  vii.  14;  Acts 
xvi.  15,  38  ;  I  Cor.  i.  16.]     [1  Cor.  xi.  27,  28,  29,  with  John  xiii.  37  and  vi.  63,  64.J 

Art.   7.     You  believe  that  the  sanctification  of  the  Sabbath  is  of 
perpetual  obligation  ;  that  the  worship  of  God  in  the  closet,  in  the 
family,  and  in  the  sanctuary,  is  divinely  appointed;  that  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel  is  a  divine  institution,  and  that  a  strict  and  careful 
discipline  should  be  maintained  in  the  church  for  its  edification. 

[Acts  xx.  7  ;  1  Cor.  xvi.  1,  2  :  Heb.  iv.  9,  10;  Rev.  i.  10.  |  [Matt.  vi.  6;  Joshua 
xviv.  15;  1  Chron.  xvi.  43;  Acts,  \.  2  ;  Isa.  lxi.  7  ;  Heb.  x.  25.]  [Mark  xvi.  15;  1 
Cor.  v.  7,  II  ;  Titus  iii.   10;  I  Tim.  v.   I,  2. J 

Art.  8.  Finally — You  believe  that  there  will  be  a  resurrection 
of  the  body,  and  a  general  judgment,  when  Christ  will  be  revealed 
a  judge,  the  righteous  be  received  to  eternal  blessedness  in  heaven, 
and  the  wicked  sentenced  to  endless  misery  in  hell. 


46  Congregational  Association. 

[John  v.  28,  29;  Acts  xvii.  iS  ;  1  Cor.  xv.  21,  22.]  [Matt.  xxv.  31,  46;  Acts  xvii. 
31 ;  Rom.  xiv.  10  ;  Rev.  xx.  II,  12.]  [Matt.  xxv.  46;  Luke  xvi.  19,  26;  Rom.  ii.  5 
10;  2  Thessalonians  i.  6,  10;  Rev.  xxi.   11,   12.] 

In  1S67  these  articles  were  amended  by  adding  the  words  "by 
overruling"  after  the  word  "that"  in  the  seventh  line  in  article  1  ; 
by  dropping  all  in  the  second  line  of  article  5,  to  the  word  "  by," 
also  the  word  "they"  in  the  third  line  ;  and  in  article  6  by  striking 
out  all  after  the  word  "supper."  In  this  form  they  were  published 
in  1867,  1869  and  1872.  In  1S74  a  report  was  adopted  which  re- 
commended the  Broadway  summary  of  faith  and  covenant,  in 
Roy's   Manual,  in    connection    with    the    recommendation    of  that 

manual. 

Absentees. 

The  question  of  dropping  the  names  of  persons  whose  where- 
abouts are  unknown,  came  up  in  1S78  and  in  some  remarks  was 
opposed,  but  after  some  consideration  was  set  for  the  following 
year  when  the  subjoined  resolution  was  lost,  as  not  being  the  opin- 
ion of  the  body:  "That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  association  that  it  is 
the  right  of  a  church  to  drop  from  its  rolls  members  not  communi- 
cating for  three  years  or  having  religious  intercourse." 

In  1880,  after  the  reading  of  an  essay  on  the  subject,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  we  advise  our  churches  as  follows  : 

1st.  That  where  resident  absentee  members  are  so  situated  that 
they  can  become  connected  with  some  Christian  church  congenial 
to  them,  they  be  advised  to  unite  with  it  as  soon  as  practicable. 

2nd.  That  where  they  do  not  thus  unite  but  can  be  heard  from, 
they  be  continued  on  the  church  rolls,  as  other  members,  with  the 
mark  of  being  absentees,  and  so  reported  to  this  body. 

3rd.  That  where  they  are  absent  in  such  a  way  that  no  resident 
members  of  the  church  can  give  satisfactory  information  as  to  their 
whereabouts  for  three  years,  they  be  placed  on  a  separate  list,  and 
not  reported  to  this  association,  but  that,  if  at  any  time  afterwards, 
they  return  so  that  their  situation  shall  be  known,  and  there  be  no 
objection  by  a  majority  of  the  church,  their  names  may  be  returned 
to  the  regular  list  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  church. 

Ex  tempore  Preaching. 

In  i860  ministers  were  advised  to  preach  at  least  one-half  of  their 
sermons  ex  tempore. 


Congregational    Association.  47 


Free  Seat  System. 

In  187 1  the  free  seat  system  was  recommended   to  the  churches. 
Hymn  Books. 

This  subject  was  introduced  in  1856,  but  the  association  was  un- 
settled, and  it  was  deferred  until  the  next  year,  when  the  commit- 
tee recommended  the  Plymouth  collection,  but  the  body  was  not 
satisfied,  and  recommitted  it.  In  185S  the  committee  asked  for 
fuither  time,  and  the  following  year  the  Sabbath  Hymn  Book  was 
recommended  to  the  churches,  when  they  shall  procure  new 
books. 

Invitation  to  the  Communion  Table. 

The  following  form  was  recommended  in  i860:  "  We  cordially 
invite  all  who  love  our  Lord  and  Saviour  in  sincerity,  and  maintain 
a  credible  profession  in  some  evangelical  church,  to  join  with  us  in 
celebrating  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Local   Church. 

In  1866  it  was  recommended  that  the  "  churches  appoint  com- 
mittees to  visit  and  invite  families  to  attend  religious  meetings;" 
and  "  when  deprived  of  pastors,  not  to  forsake  the  assembling  of 
themselves  together,  but  to  meet  at  regular  times  and  conduct  ser- 
vices by  singing,  prayer,  scriptural  readings,  readings  of  sermons, 
and  other  appropriate  exercises." 

Stated  Ministry. 

In  1848  it  was  "  resolved  that  a  stated  ministry  is  essential  to  the 
highest  and  ultimate  success  of  the  Gospel  in  this  territory;"  the 
next  year,  that  we  "  approve  of  concentrated  and  steady  labor  at  a 
few  points,  rather  than  the  itinerating  method ;"  and  the  same  opin- 
ion was  held  as  more  conducive  to  the  spiritual  good  of  a  people 
and  eventually  to  the  greatest  number. 

Sympathy  between  Churches. 

In  186S  it  was  resolved  that  "there  ought  to  be  more  frequent 
exchanges  of  sympathy  between  our  different  churches,  and  to  this 
end  we  recommend  all  the  churches  of  our  order  in  the  State  to 
communicate  with  each  other  quarterly  by  letter  ; — these  letters  to 


4_S  Congregational  Association. 

be  read  in  the  prayer  meetings,  and  to  contain  such  matters  of  in- 
formation in  regard  to  religious  growth  as  would  be  of  general 
interest  to  all  who  love  the  cause." 

Treatment  of  Offenders. 

In  1859  the  following  action  was  taken  on  this  subject:  that  "it  is 
our  duty  to  apply  the  law  of  Christ — Matt.  iS:  15-17 — to  every 
offender  in  Christian  doctrine  or  duty,  and  that  we  have  no  right 
to  exclude  any  minister,  layman  or  church  from  Christian  fellow- 
ship without  such  trial." 


CHAPTER     VI. —HOME  MISSIONS   AND    CHURCH 
BUI  ID  I NG. 

Home     Missions. 


N  a  new,  growing  country,  it  has  been  but  natural  that 
the  association  should  take  great  interest,  in  order  that 
the  spiritual  growth  might  keep  pace  with  the  natural 
prosperity.  In  June,  1S48,  Rev.  Mr.  Atkinson,  came 
as  the  first  missionary  under  the  appointment  of  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society,  and  was  soon  followed  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Lyman,  and  the  association  has  taken  very  frequent  action  on 
various  questions  of  home  supply.  In  1S4S  more  of  the  ministerial 
brethren  were  requested  to  act  as  missionaries  to  form  and  supply 
churches,  and  the  brethren  Walker  and  Spaulding,  were  specially 
requested  to  act  in  this  capacity. 

A  committee  on  destitution  and  supply  was  appointed  as  a  standing 
committee  in  1856  which  made  frequent  reports  for  the  next  eleven 
years.  In  1856  it  reported  that  the  field  was  by  no  means  adequately 
supplied  with  ministers  of  those  denominations  represented  by  the 
A.  H.  M.  Society,  and  that  several  parts  of  the  field  weie  entirely 
unoccupied,  and  while  rejoicing  that  one  new  laborer  was  under 
appointment,  requested  that  two  more  be  immediately  sent.  That 
year  Rev.  T.  D.  Hunt,  agent  of  the  A.  H.  M.  Society  for  Oregon, 
was  present. 

In  1858,  the  report  spoke  of  the  scriptural  idea  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  church  pastoral  office,  and  regular  Sabbath  ministrations 
in  every  community ;  that  an  educated  evangelical  ministry  is  the 
best,  and  that  not  only  many  settlements,  but  whole  counties  in 
Oregon  and  Washington,  though  they  have  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  by  various  denominations,  are  destitute,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  of  its  permanent  institutions. 

The  next  year  the  A.  H.  M.  Society  was  requested  to  commit 
the   exploring   agencv   for   Oregon   and    Washington   to  the  above 


5° 


Congregational  Association. 


named    committee,    and,   in    1864,    three    more    missionaries    were 
requested  for  Oregon  and  Idaho. 

Home     Missionary     Committee. 

In  1856,  the  subject  of  a  territorial  home  missionary  society 
was  broached,  but  it  was  thought  that  the  time  had  not  vet  arrived, 
but  that  all  the  objects  contemplated  in  such  an  organization  could 
be  as  well,  if  not  better,  secured  by  a  hearty  co-operation  with  the 
A.  H.  M.  Society. 

The  same  subject  was  again  mentioned  in  1862,  when  it  was  left 
to  the  committee  on  destitution  and  supply.  But  in  1865,  a  com- 
mittee on  home  missions  was  appointed,  which  took  the  place  of 
the  committee  on  destitution  and  supply,  and  continued  until  the 
organization  of  the  Oregon  H.  M.  Society  in  1872.  This  com- 
mittee had  authority  to  elect  a  chairman  and  treasurer. 

In  1864,  a  resolution  to  request  the  A.  H.  M.  Society  to  appoint 
an  agent  for  this  region  was  laid  on  the  table,  but  in  1867,  it  was 
recommended  that  this  be  done,  and  Rev.  T.  Condon  was  nomi- 
nated for  three  months,  until  further  arrangements  could  be  made. 
He,  however,  was  unable  to  accept,  and  Rev.  O.  Dickinson  was 
applied  to,  but  he  had  made  arrangements  that  prevented  him 
engaging  in  the  work.  Hence  the  committee  in  1S68,  looking 
back  to  the  time  when  the  Lord  sent  forth  the  seventy,  two  by  two, 
recommended  that  in  the  absence  of  sufficient  ministers,  each 
church  supply  its  own  surrounding  region  in  a  similar  manner. 

Before  another  year,  however,  the  committee  made  application 
to  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  to  appoint  Mr.  Dickinson  as  their  agent,  but 
they  replied  that  thev  had  not  the  means  to  support  him,  nor  the 
men  and  means  to  supplv  new  places  which  he  would  naturally 
find  Hence  the  committee  in  1869  again  recommended  more  self 
reliance  in  the  work,  but  asked  for  one  missionary  for  Puget  Sound. 
Rev.  J.  H.  D.  Henderson  was  invited  by  the  association  to  act  as 
its  agent  for  the  state,  so  far  as  funds  could  be  collected  at  home  to 
support  him,  but  in  1870  only  twenty-six  dollars  were  reported  as 
having  been  thus  raised,  except  what  the  church  at  Albany,  where 
he  had  labored,  had  paid  him.  Again  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  were  urged 
to  appoint  an  agent  here.  The  next  vear  the  report  said  that  the 
A.  H.  M.  S.  felt  unable  to  support  such  an  agent,  or  even  to  send 
forth  all  the  men  who  had  applied  to  come  as  missionaries; — where- 


Congregational   Association.  51 


upon  it  was  recommended  that  our  home  missionary  contributions 
be  made  and  applied  to  aid  our  own  dependent  churches;  that  they 
strive  to  attain  self-support  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  ;  and 
that  we  adopt  the  custom  of  holding'  conference  meetings  in  the 
more  destitute  places,  in  order  to  help  those  there  to  organize 
churches  or  strengthen  existing  ones.  Those  desiring  such  meet- 
ings were  invited  to  communicate  with  the  committee,  and  it  was 
also  resolved,  "that  we  deem  it  desirable  that  a  home  missionary 
be  employed  for  the  general  field." 

In  1S71  the  National  Council  was  held,  which  gave  a  new  im- 
petus to  the  home  missionary  work,  aided  by  a  series  of  H.  M. 
conferences  in  some  of  the  Eastern  states,  and  funds  flowed  more 
freely  into  the  treasury  of  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  Dr.  D.  B.  Coe,  Secre- 
tary of  that  society,  also  visited  Oregon,  received  some  new  ideas, 
and  applied  to  Rev.  O.  Dickinson  to  become  their  agent,  but  he 
felt  unable  to  undertake  the  work.  Dr.  Atkinson  was  then  asked 
to  engage  in  it,  and  spent  two  weeks  in  exploring,  but  found  that 
he  could  not  do  efficient  work  in  this  respect  while  in  charge  of  a 
church. 

The  National  Council  also  recommended  that  the  general  con- 
ference or  association  of  each  state  provide  for  the  organization  of 
a  home  missionary  society  for  that  state.  This  was  referred  to  a 
special  committee  who  reported  favorably,  and 

The  H.   M.  Society  of  Oregon  and  adjoining  Territories 
was  organized  June  22,  1872,  with  the  following  constitution  : 

Article  I. 
This   society  shall    be  called  the    Home    Missionary  Society  of 
Oregon    and    adjoining    territories.     [Changed    in    1S77  frorn    the 
"Oregon    Home    Missionary    Society"  to   the  "Home    Missionary 
Society  of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory."] 

Article    II. 

Any  person  may  become  a  member  of  this  society  by  giving  his 

name  to    the    secretary,  and  paying   any    sum   of  money  annually 

to  the   treasurer  ;  and    a  life   member   by    a  contribution    of  fifteen 

dollars. 

Article  III. 

The  officers  shall  consist  of  a  president,  vice-president,  secretary 
and   treasurer,  who  shall    all  constitute  the   executive  committee  of 


52  Congregational  Association. 


the  society,  to  be  elected  annually  at  the   yearly  meeting  of  the  as- 
sociation.    [Changed  in  1875  so  as  to  include  the  general  missionary 

in  the  committee.] 

Article  IV. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  executive  committee,  subject  to  the 
general  direction  of  the  society,  and  in  co-operation  with  the  secre- 
tary of  the  A.  H.  M.  Society,  to  appoint  missionaries  within  the 
field  of  its  operations,  designate  their  fields  of  labor,  fix  their  sal- 
aries, and  secure  appropriations  for  their  support. 

Article  V. 

The  treasurer  shall  have  charge  of  all  the  contributions  of  the 
churches  that  shall  be  sent  to  him,  remit  the  same  to  the  parent 
society,  and  make  yearly  reports  to  this  society,  as  also  the  disburse- 
ments of  the  parent  society  in   this  field. 

Dr.  Atkinson  was  then  unanimously  recommended  to  the  A.  H. 
M.  S.  as  general  agent  or  superintendent,  with  a  salary  of  not  less 
than  eighteen  hundred  dollars.  It  was  also  recommended  that  new 
churches  be  organized  only  in  places  where  there  is  a  prospect  of 
clear  growth,  and  not  already  crowded  with  church  organizations. 

The  minutes  of  the  society,  and  reports  of  the  gener.il  missionary, 
were  not  published  until  1875,  and  the  latter  are  largely  filled  with 
facts  concerning  each  church  aided,  and  which  properly  come  into 
the  history  of  those  churches.  In  1875  a  request  was  made  that 
Dr.  Atkinson  be  made  superintendent,  and  the  same  was  repeated 
by  the  association  in  187S,  when  it  was  granted  by  the  A.  H.  M.  S. 

The  following  tables  taken  from  the  reports  show  mainly  the 
work  of  the  societv,  in  a  condensed   form: 

Officers. 

President,  1873,*  O.    Dickinson;   iS75-'So,  Deacon    G.    Shindler. 

Vice-President,  1S72-1S75,  Rev.  T.  Condon;  1S76-JS80,  Deacon 
L.  M.  Parrish. 

Secretary,  1872,  Rev.  P.  S.  Knight;  1S75,  Deacon  L.  M.  Parrish; 
1876-1880,  I.  A.  Macrum. 

Treasurer,  1S72-1S75,  A.  Hurgren;  1876-18S0,  James  Steel. 

Superintendent  of  the  Society  and  General  Missionary  of  the  A. 
H.  M.  S.  1S72-1880,  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D. 

*The  minutes  were  not  published   previous  to  1875,  and  the  present  secretary   has   been 
unable  to  find  some  of  the  figures  previous  to  that  time. 


Congregational  Association. 


53 


Receipts. 

1873 " $    

iS74 

l875 ■••■ 

1S76 236.15 

1S77 201.05 

1878 395.25 

1879    320-14 

1S80 398-65 

Total $1,555.24 

The  Life   Members 
now  number    thirty.     Their    names   are  given  in  the    minutes  for 
1879. 

General  Missionary's  Work. 


53  -a  «3 :  S  ft  I  « -a 

(U    03  --3      o    S  1   O  •■=■ 


1873*.. 

IS74... 

1874-5- 
1875-6. 
1876-7+ 
1877-8. 

1878-9. 

1879-80 


105 

102 

112 

152 

100 
130 

108 

83 


9 

75 

47 

14 

242 

29 

19 

210  . 

27 
10 

190 
81  . 

39 

19 
33 
18 

77 
185 
142 

42 
63 
80 

228 

416 

390 

416 

285 

394 
265 
238 


6,350 
6,150 
6,800 
8,048' . 
7,192 
1,  ioo( 
8,222 
8,436 


Total 


892         149     1,202        300     2,632       52,298     1,960 


192 
321I 

789 
658; 


7 

6 

8  . 

6 

5 

5 

7 

6 


•The  reports  are  from  January  to  December  for  187o  and  1874,  and  from  June  to  June  of 
the  remaining  years. 

t  For  nine  months,  his  voice  having  failed  so  as  to  lay  him  aside  the  other  three. 

AID  RECEIVED  FROM  THE  A.  H.  M.  SOCIETY. 

1877-8,   $2,725  for  seven  churches  and  two  stations.      For  Gen.  Missionary .  .$1,000 
1S78  9,       1,575  for  seven  chinches  "        "  "  •  •     1,000 

1879-Sc,     1,500  for churches.  "  ••        5°° 

Home     Missionary    Grants. 


In  [878  the  treasurer  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  wrote  to 
the  secretary  of  the  parent  society,  asking  for  a  statement  of  the 
amount  contributed  by  our  churches  to  them,  and  by  them  to  our 
churches,  hoping   that  the  facts    would    stimulate   us  to   increased 


54  Congregational  Association. 

liberality.  Although  it  occupied  the  time  of  one  of  their  clerks 
for  several  days,  they  cheerfully  acceded,  trusting  that  the 
exhibit  would  satisfy  us  that  they  had  not  been  wanting  in  interest 
to  us.  The  statement  was  as  follows:  Received  from  Oregon, 
$4,S8i.6i;  granted  to  the  state,  $64,625.00;  received  from  Wash- 
ington territory,  $233.35;  granted,  $5,450.00,  and  there  was  also 
granted  to  the  general  missionary  of  the  whole  region,  $5,500.00. 
Total  received,  $5,114.96;  granted,  $75,575.00. 

Such  a  statement  occasioned  some  surprise,  yet  it  was  thought 
that  the  granting  of  this  sum  had  stimulated  the  churches  to 
give  a  large  amount  and  the  executive  committee  were  instructed 
to  procure  from  each  church  a  statement  of  all  moneys  raised  by 
them,  which  resulted  in  showing  that  $262,370.00  had  been  given, 
and  that  each  dollar  contributed  by  the  society  had  been  the  means 
of  our  raising  $3.40. 

In  1877  the  churches  were  urged  to  bring  up  th  ir  contributions 
to  one  dollar  a  member  for  the  ensuing  year,  but  only  five  churches 
did  so. 

Church     Building. 

In  1857,  a  committee  of  three  "  were  appointed  to  represent  to 
the  Congregational  church  building  fund  committee,  the  wants  of 
this  territory,  and  solicit  from  them  a  portion  of  that  fund,  and  also 
to  take  charge  of  and  disburse  tne  same."  The  next  year  they 
reported  that  they  had  done  so,  and  $625.00  had  been  appropriated 
to  Oregon.  This  committee  was  continued  until  1864,  though  its 
reports  are  not  always  recorded,  when  it  reported  that  with  that 
amount  and  the  interest  of  what  was  not  at  once  needed,  amount- 
ing in  all  to  $882.44,  the  churches  at  Albany,  Salem  and  Forest 
Grove,  had  been  aided  in  erecting  their  edifices,  and  that  none 
remained. 

A  clause  in  the  conditions  made  with  the  churches  aided  was  that 
they  should  take  up  annual  collections  for  this  object,  to  aid  their 
weaker  brethren,  hence,  by  1866,  $211.80,  were  reported  on  hand; 
the  next  year  no  change  in  the  amount  was  reported,  but  the  fol- 
lowing year  it  had  increased  by  collections  and  interest  to  $266.33, 
currency.  In  1869  it  was  $300.06;  in  1872  it  was  "in  safe 
hands  and  bearing  interest,"  and  in  1874  it  was  said  that  they  had 
had  during  the   year   $345.50,  of  which  $200.00  had  been  donated 


Congregational  Association.  55 

to  pay  the  last  bills  of  the  church  at  North  Portland,  the  rest  being 
at  interest;  also,  that  the  whole  amount  expended  by  the  committee 
was  $1.^82.44,  which  had  secured  the  erection,  without  any  debt 
remaining,  of  five  churches,  costing  in  the  aggregate,  $17,002.81. 
It  was  deplored,  however,  that  onlv  one  of  these  churches  had 
taken  any  collection  during  the  year,  according  to  agreement. 
Since  that  time  no  report  has  been  made  by  the  committee. 


CHAPTER   VII.— INDIANS  AND  CHINESE. 


ESIDES  work  among  the  whites  in  this  region,  there 
has  been  labor  bestowed  on  both  of  these  races  by 
members  of  the  association,  so  that  they  have  come  in 
for  a  share  of  consideration. 

Indians. 

The  fact  that  the  first  Congregational  work  on  the  coast  was  for 
these  natives,  that  some  of  the  members  of  this  association  have  been 
more  or  less  engaged  in  it  since  the  organization  of  the  body,  and 
that  one  of  the  churches  is  now  on  an  Indian  reservation,  has 
caused  much  interest  to  be  taken  in  them.  Three  of  the  members 
of  1848  came  from  that  work,  and  the  A.  JB.  C.  F.  M.  did  not 
wholly  relinquish  all  hope  of  some  of  them  returning,  under  its 
patronage,  to  their  fields,  for  several  years — hence  they  often  asked 
the  advice  of  this  body  as  to  what  was  wise  for  them  to  do. 

In  1850  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding  asked  advice  in  regard  to  his  ac- 
cepting a  sub-Indian  agency  in  the  Walla  Walla  region.  The  matter 
was  first  referred  to  a  committee,  which  reported  favorably,  and  after 
several  hours  consideration  by  the  association,  the  report  was  accepted, 
provided  he  could  find  some  good  friend  to  accompany  him  to  that 
region,  at  least  on  his  first  trip,  and  the  providence  of  God  should 
not  interpose  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Walker  was  advised  to  be  his  companion, 
and  Mr.  S.,  according  to  his  report  for  1851,  was  engaged  in  that 
work  for  most  of  the  next  year. 

After  that  there  was  little  to  be  done  except  to  wait  patiently 
until  after  the  Indian  war  of  iS55-'56,  the  making  of  the  treaties 
about  that  time,  and  the  consequent  opening  of  the  country  east  of 
the  Cascades.  When  this  done  Mr.  Spaulding,  always  eagerly 
looking  in  that  direction, brought  the  matter  before  the  association, 
even  as  early  as  September,  1855.  At  that  time  much  interesting 
information  was  laid  before  the  body  in  regard  to  the  faithfulness 
of  the  Nez  Perces  Indians  and  some  of  the  Cayuses,  in  their  relig- 


Congregational  Association.  57 


ious  services,  while  deprived  of  teachers,  their  loyalty  to  the  whites, 
and  their  appreciation  of  education;  whereupon  it  was  believed 
that  the  time  had  come  for  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  to  renew  work 
among  the  Nez  Perces,  and  that  society-  was  recommended  to  send 
Mr.  Spalding  to  that  field,  with  two  more  missionaries  and  their 
wives,  as  soon  as  practicable,  both  to  preach  and  translate  the 
Scriptures;  and  this  action  was  re-affirmed  in  1856,  1857  and  1858. 
In  1857  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  was  requested  to  send  some  one  to  ex- 
plore the  Spokane  country,  and  in  '85s  government  was  asked  to 
fill  the  appointments  to  be  made  with  the  Nez  Perces,  Spokanes 
and  Cayuses  with  Christian  teachers,  according  to  treaty,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  superintendent  of  In- 
dian affairs  to  secure  these  appointments,  if  possible,  thus  antedating 
President  Grant's  policy  by  about  twelve  years.  Mr.  Spalding 
soon  after  went  to  the  Nez  Perces,  and  hence  further  action  was 
not  necessary. 

In  1869  Mr.  Spalding  again  appeared  before  the  association,  ask- 
ing it  to  examine  Executive  Document  No.  38,  in  which,  by  author- 
ity of  government,  there  had  been  published  a  report  of  Bishop 
Brouillet,  a  Roman  Catholic,  which  condemned  the  missions  of  the 
A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  and  especially  Dr.  Whitman.  This  was  done,  and 
after  careful  consideration,  resolutions  were  adopted  which  warmly 
endorsed  the  missionaries  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  spoke  of  their 
work  as  of  great  value  in  preserving  this  country  to  the  United 
States,  and  asking  Congress  to  publish  a  document  in  preparation 
by  Mr.  Spalding,  as  a  refutation  of  the  false  statements  of  the 
priests.  These  resolutions,  with  the  report  of  the  committee,  were 
published  that  year,  and  with  other  endorsements,  by  nearly  all  the 
Protestant  denominations  of  Oregon,  and  Mr.  Spalding's  earnest 
labors  secured  the  publishing,  under  congressional  sanction,  of  the 
desired  paper. 

The  same  year  an  essay,  unpublished,  was  read,  which  in  the 
main  was  approved ;  but  the  wisdom  of  one  recommendation,  to 
take  the  children  away  from  the  tribes,  and  place  them  like  found- 
lings in  white  families,  was  doubted,  and  the  fact  that  the  Indians 
were  soon  to  be  turned  over  to  the  military  department,  rendered 
their  affairs  so  dubious,  that  the  association  felt  that  it  was  best  to 
commit  the  whole  subject  to  a  standing  committee  for  a  year,  and 
wait  the  developments  of  time. 
5 


58  Congregational  Association. 

That  committee  reported  the  next  year,  stating  many  facts  in  re- 
gard to  the  results  of  Christian  work  among  the  Nez  Perces,  Cay- 
uses,  Spokanes,  Umatillas,  Yakimas,  Warm  Spring  and  Grand 
Ronde  Indians,  as  well  as  some  eastern  tribes,  and  closed  by  recom- 
mending that  they  be  treated  as  individuals  and  not  in  a  commun- 
istic manner  as  tribes;  whereupon  it  was  resolved,  as  the  judgment 
of  the  body,  that  a  convention  of  the  friends  of  the  Indian  ought 
to  be  held,  to  embrace  delegates  from  various  bodies.  This  was  in- 
tended to  help  Mr.  Spalding  in  his  efforts. 

The  next  year  the  committee  reported  that  this  call  had  been 
made,  but  that  few  attended,  and  there  was  no  action;  but  that  the 
bodies  appointing  delegates  had  passed  resolutions  similar  to  our 
own,  and  that  Mr.  Spalding  had  been  successful.  The  change  from 
the  military  to  the  peace  policy  was  looked  on  with  favor,  and 
government  was  urged  to  give  their  lands  to  them  in  fee  simple, 
whether  on    reservations   or  on   public   land,  and  to  treat   them  as 


men. 


In  1S73  another  report  was  adopted  which  condemned  the  giving 
ot  annuities,  without  corresponding  Christian  instruction;  approved 
Christian  work  among  them,  basing  this  on  past  facts;  and  also  ap- 
proved the  peace  policy,  when  it  has  earnest  Christian  men  in  its 
employ,  filled  with  the  missionary  spirit,  notwithstanding  the 
Modoc  war,  which  it  was  believed  had  resulted  from  a  want  of 
Christianity  ;  deprecated  the  sentiment  which  favored  the  utter  ex- 
termination of  the  Modoc  tribe  ;  called  for  justice  both  among  of- 
fending Indians  and  guilty  whites;  stated  a  belief  that  Indian  wars 
have  generally  resulted  from  real  or  imaginary  wrongs  on  the  part 
of  the  whites  toward  the  Indians,  and  that  the  chief  hope  for  the 
Indian  lay  in  the  education  of  their  children,  a  marked  feature  of 
the  peace  policy. 

The  three  following  years  the  peace  policy  was  again  endorsed, 
with  titles  to  their  land  for  the  Indians  on  the  reservations  ;  while 
the  report  and  resolutions  of  1876  were  mainly  directed  against 
the  transfer  of  the  Indian  bureau  to  the  War  department.  It  was 
recommended  that  the  Home  Missionary  Society  assume  as  far 
and  as  fast  as  possible  the  task  of  giving  religious  instruction  to  the 
Indians,  and  the  O.  H.  M.  Societv's  committee  to  act  with  reference 
to  this  work,  which  had  now  come  under  the  American  Missionary 


Congregational  Association.  59 


Association,  as  well  as   all  the  work  of  that  society  in  this  region, 
as  they  do  with  reference  to  the  work  of  Home  Missions. 

During  the  next  two  years,  the  results  of  missionary  labor  and 
the  Peace  Policy  were  fully  presented,  boarding  schools  recom- 
mended, and  the  granting  of  titles  to  their  land  to  Indians  of  indus- 
trious habits,  strongly  urged,  on  account  of  their  love  of  country; 
justice,  a  preventive  of  war,  and  means  of  civilization,  before  any 
consolidation  of  reservations  should  take  place;  and  in  1879  it  was 
stated  that  our  action  had  brought  the  attention  of  public  officers 
to  these  needs,  and  that  all  our  actions  for  the  past  two  years  had 
been  published  in  the  reports  of  the  Board  of  Indian  Commission- 
ers, while  the  same  policy  was  still  held  up  as  the  policy  of  this 
association. 

In  1S74  the  movement  to  erect  a  monument  to  Marcus  Whitman, 
M.  D.,  was  endorsed  and  a  collection  taken  in  the  association  for 
the  object. 

In  1S80  the  Indian  boarding  school  at  Forest  Grove  was  com- 
mended by  resolution. 

Chinese. 

Some  work,  though  not  a  large  amount,  has  been  done  for 
these  people  in  our  midst,  and  in  1872  it  was  voted  "that  we  learn 
with  pleasure  that  the  American  Missionary  Association  have 
begun  a  Christian  work  among  the  Chinese  on  this  coast,  and  that 
we  shall  welcome  and  encourage  it  within  the  bounds  of  our  as- 
sociation;" and  the  next  year  the  body  expressed  sympathy  for  the 
work  begun  among  them  in  Portland,  and  recommended  it  to  the 
co-operation  of  the  churches. 

In  1876,  as  some  persons  in  the  East  had  recommended  that  the 
A.  M.  A.  give  up  their  work  among  the  Chinese  on  this  coast,  it 
was  voted  as  the  sense  of  this  body  that  it  ought  not  to  be  done, 
but  that  it  ought  to  be  prosecuted  to  the  full  extent  of  the  ability  of 
that  society,  and  that  the  churches  here  should  also  take  hold  of 
the  work  ;  also  that  the  Burlingame  Treaty  be  not  modified,  as  some 
peoDle  desire,  because  it  was  believed  that  it  would  interfere  seri- 
ously with  our  commercial  and  industrial  interests  and  missionary 
work  ;  but  that  an  effort  should  be  made  "  to  break  down  by  law  the 
present  contract  system  of  the  Chinese  companies,  and  destroy 
their  power  to  keep  those  brought  here  in  a  state  of  virtual  slavery." 


60  Congregational  Association. 


Class  legislation,  it  was  said,  ought  to  be  set  aside,  and  all  persons 
of  every  race  and  color  treated  equally  before  the  law,  as  men  and 
citizens  ,when  the  conditions  of  citizenship  are  fulfilled,  as  the 
spirit  of  the  gospel,  which  treats  them  spiritually  as  individual  men. 
The  next  vear  there  was  a  wide  discussion,  and  an  essay  on  the  sub- 
ject, but  no  definite  conclusion  was  recorded. 


CHAPTER   V1IL— BENEVOLENT  SOCIETIES. 


NUMBER    of  these  have  been  recommended    to  the 
churches    as    worthy    of    their  support,  among    them 
the  following,  to  all   of  which  have  been  made  contrL 
butions  by  the  churches  composing  the  association  : 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

As  three  of  the  first  members  of  the  association  came  direct  from 
work  under  this  society,  it  was  but  natural  that  they  should  retain 
an  affection  for  it.  So  strong  was  this  that  it  was  not  thought  at 
first  necessary  to  formally  recommend  it  until  1857,  at  which  time 
an  annual  collection  was  asked  for  it,  and  again  in  1866.  Nothing 
more  seems  to  have  been  thought  necessary  until  1873,  when  a 
report  was  made  on  the  subject,  a  collection  taken  up  on  the  Sab- 
bath morning  of  the  session  for  it,  and  the  "  Duties  of  our  churches 
to  the  foreign  missionary  field,"  was  chosen  as  the  subject  of  the 
associational  sermon  for  the  following  year. 

When  this  was  preached,  home  training  of  the  children,  system- 
atic giving  and  the  monthly  concert,  were  urged. 

In  1S75  an  hour  was  devoted  to  the  subject,  when  it  was  men- 
tioned that  it  is  the  duty  of  all  to  go  to  the  foreign  missionary 
field,  either  in  person,  means,  or  prayer,  and  interesting  facts  were 
mentioned  in  regard  to  India,  Africa,  and  especially  the  Indians 
within  our  bounds.  The  next  year  an  essay,  published,  was 
read,  in  which  systematic  giving  was  urged  for  the  foreign 
work,  it  having  likewise  a  reflex  influence  on  home  work, 
and  large  reference  was  made  to  the  work  in  Japan.  A  year 
later  the  committee  on  missions  reported  that  a  number  of  copies 
of  the  Missionary  Herald  had  been  granted  for  free  distribution  in 
our  limits,  some  churches  put  in  correspondence  with  missionaries, 
and  the  people  urged  to  become  better  acquainted  with  the  work. 
In  1880  an  essay  was  read  which  mentioned  the  grand  success  of 
the  foreign  work,  although  it  had  lost  some  of  its  romance,  and 
many  interesting  incidents  were  spoken  of. 


62  Congregational    Association. 

Woman's  Board  of    Missions. 

TL  is  society  was  brought  into  notice  by  the  body  in  1873,  when 
the  sisters  in  the  churches  were  asked  to  organize  such  missionary 
societies  in  their  churches,  auxiliary  to  the  W.  B.  M.,  and  one  lady 
member  in  each  church  was  designated  to  commend  the  subject  to 
her  sisters. 

In  1875  an  hour  was  given  to  the  object;  only  two  churches  re- 
ported organizations,  though  others  had  contributed  to  the  work, 
and  the  rest  were  desired  to  organize.  The  next  year  a  paper, 
published,  was  read,  which  spoke  of  the  reasons  which  had  called 
the  society  into  existence,  woman's  work  for  women  in  heathen 
lands,  so  degraded  and  secluded  as  to  be  difficult  to  reach  by  men, 
oftentimes;  but  a  special  woman's  meeting  was  not  always  thought 
possible  in  every  church,  and  the  subject  was  referied  to  the  as- 
sociation. The  societies  in  the  two  churches  reported  success  in 
raising  money  and  awakening  interest,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the 
whole  subject  of  women's  missions  ought  to  be  deemed  a  part  of 
church  work,  and  that  the  church  should  devote  one  or  more  meet- 
ings each  month  to  it.  In  1877  it  was  stated  that  the  women's 
society  in  one  church  had  found  it  very  difficult  to  sustain  its  organ- 
ization, so  much  so,  that  they  had  changed  their  plan,  and  were  now 
devoting  one  prayer  meeting  each  month  to  the  subject,  and  that  it 
had  proved  successful. 

American  Bible  Society. 

This  has  ever  held  the  confidence  of  the  body,  having  first  been 
commended  in  1848,  and  afterwards  in  1856,  1857,  1871  and  1872, 
when  the  churches  were  asked  to  give  it  their  prayers  and  an  annual 
collection,  and  attend  its  anniversaries.  In  1S63  an  agent  of  the 
society  was  asked  for  this  region;  in  1864  the  society  was  pledged 
our  warm  co-operation  on  account  of  its  noble  work  for  the  army; 
in  1867  its  agent,  Rev.  I.  D.  Driver,  was  recommended  to  the 
churches  ;  in  1868  the  Bible  offered  by  the  American  Bible  Union 
was  condemned  as  unsuitable,  and  in  1875  and  1878  the  agent  of 
the  American  Bible  Society,  Rev.  P.  C.  Hetzler,  was  welcomed 
by  the  association  and  listened  to  with  interest  in  regard  to  his 
work. 

American  Congregational  Union. 

This  being   the   society   which    had    granted  aid  to  us  in  church 


Congregational  Association.  63 


building-,  mentioned  in  chapter  six,  it  was  by  vote  commended  to  the 
churches  in  1858,  1866,  1S70  and  1872,  and  an  annual  collection  re- 
quested for  it. 

American  Education  Society. 

In  1S72  it  was  resolved  "that  we  approve  the  object  as  we  see 
the  need  of  this  society,  which  has  for  its  work  the  aiding  of  young 
men  in  preparing  for  the  ministry." 

American  Home  Missionary  Society. 

This  society,  like  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  was  so  interwoven  with  the 
whole  work  here,  that  no  formal  action  seemed  necessary ;  and 
hence  it  was  not  until  1857  that  it  was  recommended  by  vote  to  the 
churches,  and  an  annual  collection  asked  for  it.  In  1866  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  given  to  the  society  for  their  liberal  aid  thus  far 
granted  ;  the  action  of  the  Congregational  Council  to  sustain  the 
work  was  heartily  endorsed ;  and  a  pledge  was  made  to  endeavor 
to  raise  our  full  proportion  of  the  $300,000  proposed  to  be  raised 
for  their  work.  For  further  action  see  chapter  six. 
American  Tract  Societies. 

The  Tract  Society  of  New  York,  embracing  at  that  time  the 
one  in  Boston,  was  endorsed  in  1848,  1856,  and  1857.  Owing  to  its 
action  about  18 58,  refusing  to  publish  anything  against  slavery,  as 
contrary  to  its  constitution,  the  Boston  Society,  which  was  the 
oldest,  but  had  become  auxiliary  to  the  one  in  New  York,  withdrew, 
and  published  anti-slavery  tracts.  For  the  same  reason,  the  as- 
sociation advised  the  churches  to  withhold  their  contributions  and 
patronage  from  it  and  give  them  to  the  one  in  Boston.  This  action 
was  taken  in  1S5S  and  re-affirmed  in  1859  and  i860.  But  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  in  1871,  when  the  two  societies  had  been  re- 
united, with    that  at    New    York  as  the    leading  one,  it  was  again 

endorsed. 

Anti-Slavery  and  Freedman's  Aid  Society. 

In  1856  the  former,  and  in  1864  the  latter,  of  these  societies  were 
commended  to  the  churches.      See  chapter  three,  "  Slavery." 
Christian  Commission  and  Sanitary  Association. 

These  societies,  existing  during  the  civil  war,  were  heartily  en- 
dorsed in  1864.     See  chapter  nine,  "  State  of  the  Country." 


64  Congregational  Association. 


Congregational  Publishing  Society. 

In  1857  the  bodv  advised  membership  in  this  society. 
Temperance  Societies. 

These  have  been  thoroughly  approved,  many  times.  See  chapter 
three,  "  Temperance." 

Young  Men's  Christian    Associations. 

These  bodies  came  up  for  consideration  in  1876,  when  a  short 
history  of  them  was  given,  their  aims  and  work  set  forth,  their  re- 
lations with  the  church  discussed,  and  by  resolution  they  were 
heartily  endorsed. 

American  Missionary  Association. 

In  1866  this  society  by  formal  vote  was  first  recommended  to  the 
churches,  and  again  two  years  later.  In  1874  a  report  was  read 
which  spoke  in  regard  to  the  success  of  the  societv  in  Africa,  and 
among  the  negroes,  Chinese  and  Indians,  of  our  country.  The 
next  year  an  hour  was  devoted  to  it,  which  was  spent  mainly  in  de- 
votional exercises,  and  various  interesting  incidents  related,  of  work 
in  our  midst.  An  hour  was  also  given  to  the  association  in  1866 
and  1867,  when  reports  were  read,  which  were  published,  and  which 
referred  largely  to  the  objects  of  the  association,  to  labor  for  the 
despised  races  of  America,  hence  they  come  properly  into  chapter 
seven.  Its  publication,  the  American  Missionary,  was  recommended 
to  the  churches. 

Missions. 

A  standing  committee  on  this  general  subject  was  appointed  in 
1877,  which  worked  earnestly  during  the  year,  and  secured  for  free 
distribution  fifty-two  copies  of  the  American  Missionary,  Home  Mis- 
sionary and  Missionary  Herald,  aided  eleven  churches  in  opening  a 
correspondence  with  some  missionary  in  the  field,  and  urged 
monthly  missionary  meetings  in  each  church,  believing  that  much 
of  our  lack  of  interest  in  the  subject  was  owing  to  lack  of  in- 
formation. 


CHAPTER  IX.— MISCELLANEOUS  SUBJECTS 


Business  Relations  with  the  Churches. 

IN    1877  an    essay    was  read  on    this    subject,  which    was 

published,  in  which    the    position    was    taken  that  the 

Lord's  business  belonged  to  the  Lord,  and  was  hence 

of  great   importance,  in  respect  to  our  attending  to  it  ; 

that  it  was  business,  and  needed  to  be  attended  to  in  a  business  way; 

and  that  it  had  its  natural  divisions  as  much  as  other  business,  so  that 

to  each  should  be  given   his  work,  according   to  his  or  her  talents. 

Children  and   the  Church. 

In  1S75  an  essay,  published  in  the  minutes,  was  read,  calling 
special  attention  to  the  relation  of  Christians  to  their  children,  and 
to  the   promise,  "  I  will   be  a   God   to    thee,  and  to   thy    seed    after 

thee :" that    parents  are  not    taken  into  the  school  of  Christ  and 

their  children  left  out  in  the  cold;  also  somewhat  to  infant  baptism, 
but  more  to  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  church  was  also 
urged,  especially  through  the  Sabbath  school,  to  take  the  place  of 
parents  in  regard  to  the  children  of  unbelievers;  "  to  go  out  into  the 
highways  and  hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in." 
Christian  Unity. 

This  subject  was  brought  up  in  1865,  when  it  was  resolved  "that 
we  hail  with  joy  the  increasing  evidence  of  an  earnest  desire  for 
Christian  unity,  and  sympathy  among  all  denominations  of  our 
country  and  the  world,  and  that  it  is  our  desire  to  encourage  by 
precept  and  example  that  Christian  intercourse  that  shall  tend  to 
unite  all  God's  people  in  closer  bonds  of  love." 
Church    Membership. 

An  essay  was  read  in  1875,  and  also  published,  which  gave  as 
primary  conditions  for  this,  a  belief  in  the  essentials  ot  doctrine,  a 
sincere  desire  to  accept  the  conditions  of  salvation,  and  a  willing- 


66  Congregational  Association. 

ness  to  enter  into  covenant  with  God  and  his  people.  Secondary 
conditions  were  also  spoken  of,  methods  of  work,  forms  of  worship, 
and  expressions  of  doctrine.  The  first  were  considered  essential 
to  church  membership;  the  second  might  or  might  not  be  laid  down 
by  any  church,  with  no  impropriety  either  way.  A  church  may 
have  the  second,  when  Christ's  words  will  be  true,  "  Other  sheep 
have  I  not  of  this  fold :"  it  was  urged,  however,  to  drop  them  as 
fast  as  practicable,  and  retain  only  what  the  church  must  have,  the 
first,  so  that  Christ's  other  words  might  also  prove  true,  "there  shall 
be  one  fold  and  one  shepherd."  Any  one  desiring  to  become  a 
church  member  should  ask  :  1st — Have  I  a  fixed  purpose  to  be  a  life- 
long Christian?  2nd — In  what  organization  can  I  find  the  best 
home,  helps  and  opportunities  for  usefulness  ? 

There  were  different  opinions  on  the  subject,  and  no  resolution 
was  passed,  as  was  also  the  case  with  all  other  essays  mentioned  in 
this  chapter,  where  no  such  action  is  spoken  of,  the  essay  being  in- 
tended more  to  awaken  thought,  than  bind  the  association  by  any 
resolution. 

Church  and  Nation. 

This  subject  also  came  up  in  an  essay,  in  1876;  especially  the  dis- 
honesty of  government  officials,  even  professed  Christians.  The 
causes  of  this,  as  mentioned,  were  a  practical  neglect  of  active  Chris- 
tian works,  among  a  certain  class  of  Christian  society,  and  the  pop- 
ularity of  religion,  while  the  remedy  was  a  return  to  Bible  morals 
and  life — to  the  Saviour. 

Church  Polity. 

This  was  the  subject  of  the  associational  sermon  in  1859,  which 
was  published  that  year.  It  stated  that  church  members,  according 
to  the  Scriptures,  held  a  relation  of  mutual  equality,  mutual  liberty, 
and  mutual  responsibility;  were  of  final  authority,  and  were  author- 
ized to  act  in  church  affairs  in  the  most  convenient  manner.  The 
conclusions  were  that  the  early  church  polity  is  the  best  for  all  ages, 
that  Congregationalism  is  scriptural,  and  that  church  action  is  ex- 
ceeding solemn. 

Comity. 

The  only  action  taken  in  regard  to  this  was  in  1878,  when  this 
resolution  was  passed :  "  Admonished  bv  a  long  course  of  disastrous 


Congregational    Association.  67 


history  in  what  is  known  as  'denominational  comity,'  we,  the  pas- 
tors and  delegates  of  the  Congregational  churches  of  Oregon  and 
Washington  Territory,  feel,  that  in  justice  and  fidelity  to  our  polity, 
it  is  the  time  to  abandon  denominational  comity,  for  denominational 
co-operation,  as  a  juster  and  safer  course  to  pursue." 

Congregationalism  and  Missionary  Work. 

A  long  report,  which  was  adopted,  was  made  on  this  subject  in 
1S73,  which  took  the  position  that  our  polity  was  especially  adapted 
to  foreign  missions,  from  the  fact  that  the  amount  of  money  con- 
tributed by  our  churches  for  this  purpose  will  compare  favorably 
with  that  of  any  other  denomination  in  the  world;  and  to  home 
mission  work,  because  it  is  not  a  sect,  adds  nothing  of  form  to  the 
requirements  of  any  orthodox  denomination,  and  is  capable  of  the 
most  rapid  work  at  the  least  possible  expense.  Why  it  has  not  been 
more  successful  in  the  past,  was  stated  to  be  that  it  has  worked 
into  other  churches,  especially  Presbyterian,  because  of  its  lack  of 
sectarianism,  and  that  all  denominations  are  tending  to  our  polity, 
because  our  ideas  have  been  infused  into  them. 

Its  adaptedness  to  church  expansion  at  home  was  brought  out  in  an 
essay  in  1879,  and  the  younger  members  were  recommended  to  be 
put  to  this  kind  of  work.     This  paper  was  published  in  the  Pacific. 

Congregational  Library. 

This  topic  was  never  broached  until  1879,  when  it  was 
brought  up  in  an  essay  as  one  branch  of  the  subject — "  The  objects 
to  be  kept  in  view  in  these  associations  and  how  best  to  secure 
them,"  and  was  thought  favorably  of  by  the  body,  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  the  beginning  of  a  small  library.  In  :88o  the  librarian 
reported  two  hundred  and  thirty-nine  pamphlets  and  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  duplicates,  forty-six  newspapers,  besides  manuscripts} 
circulars  and  historical  articles. 

Criticism. 

The  criticism  of  sermons  and  plans  was  talked  over  in  1850  when 
it  was  thought  that  the  body  could  not  properly  do  so,  but  that  such 
exercises  should  be  referred  to  a  private  meeting  or  association  of 
ministers  only. 


Congregational  Association. 


English  Ritualism. 

This  was  treated  of  in  a  published  essay  in  1878,  which  took 
strong  ground  against  it,  especially  the  priesthood,  apostolical  suc- 
cession, baptismal  regeneration,  and  many  ceremonies  connected 
with  the  Lord's  Supper,  as  being  earned  to  such  an  extreme  as  to 
vary  but  little  from  Roman  Catholicism. 

How  to  make  Sabbath   Services  more  Fruitful, 
was  discussed  in  1877,  and  was  answered,  by  preaching  Christ  more, 
more  secret  prayer,  making  it  evident  to  the   people  that  we  love 
their  souls,  and  by  holding  inquiry  meetings  after  evening  services. 

Religious  Newspaper  for   Oregon — The  "Pacific." 

The  subject  of  a  religious  newspaper  for  our  region  was  first  put 
on  the  docket  in  1857,  but  after  a  year's  consideration  the  committee 
could  only  ask  for  more  time,  and  having  two  years  more,  reported 
that  as  yet  no  successful  plan  had  been  devised  for  effecting  this 
work,  but  the  committee  was  continued.  No  further  action,  how- 
ever, seems  to  have  been  taken  until  1865,  when  Rev.  S.  V. 
Blakeslee,  being  with  us,  presented  the  Pacific  and  asked  that  it  be 
favorably  considered.  This  was  done,  Dr.  Atkinson  was  appointed 
as  Oregon  editor,  an  Oregon  Department  having  been  added,  and 
the  paper  was  recommended  to  the  churches.  The  next  year  it 
was  agair  endorsed,  and  Dr.  Atkinson  requested  to  continue  his 
editorial  labors.  In  1S67  there  was  no  mention  made  of  it,  but  the 
Home  Missionary,  Sabbath  at  Home,  Tract  J^ourn'al,  Missionary  Herald 
and  American  Missionary,  were  commended.  In  186S  it  was  again 
endorsed  as  more  just  to  our  region  than  the  Independent  or  Advance, 
an  action  which  was  confirmed  the  following  year.  By  1869  there 
was  some  dissatisfaction  about  it  and  the  committee  reported,  stat- 
ing that  no  paper  represented  our  wants,  and  advised  the  churches 
to  use  their  judgment  as  to  what  paper  they  might  take,  and  wait 
until  we  should  be  able  to  have  a  religious  paper  of  our  own.  Two 
years  later  the  association  again  recommended  the  Pacific,  the  last 
time  for  several  years. 

In  1872,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  body  that  there  was  need  of  a 
Congregational  paper  in  Oregon,  and  each  pastor  was  requested  to 
organize  a  committee  in  his  church  to  ascertain  in  regard  to  sub- 
scribers and  advertisements  for  it,  and  there  the  matter  rested,  the 


Congregational  Association.  69 


principal  worker  about  it  having  removed  East,  until  1878.  That 
year  Rev.  S.  V.  Blakeslee,  being  present,  asked  if  some  arrange- 
ments could  not  be  made  by  which  the  association  might  unite  in 
the  support  of  the  Pacific,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
consider  the  subject.  That  committee  the  following  year  reported 
that  satisfactory  arrangements  had  been  made  with  the  publishers 
of  that  paper,  its  price  reduced  from  $4.00  to  $2.50,  and  Chaplain 
Stubbs  appointed  associate  editor  for  Oregon — whereupon  the 
paper  was  heartily  commended  to  the  churches,  and  those  having 
articles  for  it,  were  requested  to  furnish  them  through  the  Oregon 
editor,  to  whom  the  hearty  support  of  the  body  was  pledged.  He 
was  re-elected  in  1880,  with  Rev.-  P.   S.  Knight  as  trustee. 

Religious  Instruction  of  the  Household. 

This  was  discussed  in  an  essay  in  1877.  It  was  defined  to  be  the 
doctrines  arising  from  the  work  of  all  the  persons  of  the  Trinity, 
and  the  consequent  duties  arising  from  this  knowledge;  the  evils 
of  sin,  the  value  of  the  Bible,  together  with  the  teachings  of  nature, 
as  coming  from  the  same  God,  and  thanksgiving  and  prayer:  this 
to  be  done  by  self-consecration  and  godly  lives  of  both  parents,  but 
especially  of  the  mother.  It  was  also  urged  to  gain  and  keep  the 
affection  and  sympathy  of  the  children  in  their  trials,  temptations, 
studies  and  amusements.  Others  afterwards  spoke  of  infant  bap- 
tism, the  shorter  catechism,  obedience  to  parents  and  God,  "  do 
not  continually  threaten  and  scold,"  not  forgetting  the  older  ones 
in  our  love  for  the  }ounger,  a  good  room  for  boys  as  well  as  girls, 
family  prayer,  taking  the  children  to  church  when  young,  and 
parents  spending  their  evenings  at  home. 

Reviews  of  Books. 

But  twice  has  such  work  come  before  the  body.  In  1875  a 
review  was  read  on  "  Le  Conte's  Religion  and  Science,"  and  in 
1866,  on  "  Christlieb's  Modern  Doubt  and  Christian  Belief,"  both 
of  which  were  highly  commended,  and  the  reviews  were  published. 

Secret     Societies. 

Resolutions  in  regard  to  them  were  passed  in  1861,  opposing 
them,  it  is  believed,  but  the  minutes  of  that  year  are  not  recorded. 
The  next  year  the  resolutions  were  rescinded. 


*jo  Congregational  Association. 

State  of    the  Country. 

During  the  civil  war,  resolutions  in  favor  of  the  Union,  were 
often  passed,  the  first  being  in  1S62,  although  they  are  not 
recorded.  The  next  year,  the  body  having  watched  with  intense 
nterest  the  struggle  going  on,  and  recognizing  with  gratitude 
the  success  with  which  God  has  blessed  our  national  forces, 
re-affirmed  their  devotion  to  the  Union. 

In  1864,  the  resolutions  adopted  were  full,  pledging  increased 
efforts  for  aid  to  the  army,  through  the  Sanitary  Association,  and 
more  especially  through  the  Christian  Commission,  as  working  both 
for  their  temporal  and  spiritual  good ;  recognizing  the  fact  that  the 
government  was  similar  in  principle  to  Congregationalism,  the 
principle  of  self-government,  and  that  both  in  church  and  state,  it 
had  been  assailed  in  the  South;  imploring  Almighty  aid  upon  the 
government  and  its  officers;  gratefully  acknowledging  God's 
hand  in  freeing  the  slave;  recommending  to  the  churches  a  gene- 
rous support  of  the  Freedman's  Aid  Society,  to  prepare  him  for  his 
new  state  of  freedom;  and,  renewing  pledges  to  the  Bible  and  Tract 
Societies,  because  of  their  noble  work  in  the  army. 

The  reports  for  1865  and  1S66,  spoke  anew  of  the  need  of 
education  and  religion  to  enable  the  freedmen  to  assume  the  duties 
which  were  soon  to  fall  upon  them,  and  claimed  that  no  difference 
ought  to  be  made  between  the  two  races  on  account  of  color — bas- 
ing the  right  of  suffrage,  both  among  whites  and  blacks,  on  know- 
ledge sufficient  to  read  and  write  intelligently. 

Science  and  Christianity. 

In  1865,  a  paper  was  read  on  this  subject,  and  discussion  followed, 
but  no  definite  action  was  taken. 

' '  Exegesis  " — Su  bj  ect,  Day . 

In  1880,  an  exegesis  on  this  word,  as  used  in  the  first  chapter  of 
Genesis,  was  read,  which  stated  that  the  root  of  the  word  was  from 
heat,  from  which  it  came  to  mean  light  and  heat,  as  contrasted 
with  darkness,  then  the  whole  period  of  light  and  darkness — an 
epoch.  In  the  discussion  which  followed,  some  agreed  with  the 
essay,  and  some,  while  accepting  the  general  principles  of  the 
essay,  found  the  difficulties  so  great  in  regard  to  that  meaning  of 
the  word  in  this  chapter,  as  to  befieve  in  a  more  literal  translation 
of  it  there. 


CHAPTER    X. 


Northwestern  Association  of  Congregational  Ministers. 

LTHOUGH  this  body  was  organized  at  an  early  day, 
yet  up  to  December,  1875,  all  records  have  been  lost, 
and  all  that  is  known  of  it  before  that  time,  has  been 
gathered  from  the  memory  of  the  oldest  members. 
From  this  .  source  of  information  it  is  now  on  record  that  it 
was  organized  at  Oregon  City,  Sept.,  1848,  by  Revs.  Har- 
vey Clark,  G.  H.  Atkinson,  E.  Walker,  C.  Eells  and  Lewis 
Thompson;  that  the  meetings  were  to  be  semi-annual,  and  that 
the  pastor  of  the  church  where  the  meeting  was  held  was  to  be 
moderator,  and  C.  Eells,  clerk.  February,  1849,  and  February, 
1850,  meetings  were  held  at  Forest  Grove.  In  1856,  a  meeting 
was  held  at  the  house  of  C.  Eells,  near  Hillsboro,  when  P.  B. 
Chamberlain  was  clerk,  and  probably  one  at  the  house  of  Rev.  J. 
S.  Griffin,  near  Hillsboro,  in  1857  or  1858.  December  28th,  1875, 
a  meeting  was  called  at  Portland,  when  Rev.  E.  Godfrey,  was 
received  from  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren ;  the  confession  of 
faith  of  the  general  association,  printed  in  the  minutes  of  1872,  were 
adopted  as  the  standard  of  doctrine  of  the  body.  A  collect  on  dancing, 
giving  its  history  as  a  religious  custom  and  as  a  means  of  entertain- 
ment, presented  by  Dr.  Atkinson,  and  an  essay  on  cosmic  educa- 
tion, read  by  Rev.  P.  S.  Knight,  urging  the  culture  of  the  whole 
man,  spiritual  as  well  as  physical  and  intellectual,  and  calling  upon 
the  Christian  church  to  take  the  lead,  were  the  papers  read. 

Since  then  a  meeting  has  been  held  annually,  in  connection  with 
the  session  of  the  general  association,  and  the  main  business  done, 
may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  following: 

Members. 

This  list  was  made  out  according  to  the  best  knowledge  in  1879: 


72 


Congregational  Association. 


When 
Received. 


1848 

1848 

1848 

1848 

About 

1852 

About 

1856 


1867 


1857 
1867 

1875 
1872 
1883 

l67S 
1876 
1876 
1876 
1876 
1877 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1880 
1880 


Name. 


Date  of  Dismissal. 


.  Harvey  Clark 1858   Deceased. 

.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

.C.  Eells 

.  E.  Walker 1877 Deceased. 

.  L.  Thompson 

About 
,  D.    R.  Williams 1853 Deceased. 


.  P.  B.  Chamberlain 

.  O.   Dickinson 

.  T.  Condon 

J.  F.  Damon 1880.. 

.P.  S.  Knight 

.J.  H.  D.  Henderson 

.  H.   Lyman 

.  C.    A.  Huntington 1880 . . 

J.  D.   Eaton 1876.. 

.W.  R.  Butcher 1877.. 

.D.  B.  Gray 

.  E.  Godfrey 1879 . . 

.  F.  Crang 

J.  F.  Ellis 1880.. 

.W.  M.  Stewart 1880.. 

.M.  Eells 

.  P.   Harrison 1880 . . 

.J.  A.   Cruzan 

.  R.  S.  Stubbs 

.  A.  W.  Bower 

.  Wm.  Capps 

.  S.  S.  Van  Dersal 

J.  W.  Watts 

Officers. 


.Dismissed. 


.Dismissed  to  Wash.  Ter.    Ass'n. 


.Dismissed  to  W.  T.  Ass'n. 
Removed  to  New  Jersey. 
Removed  to  Indiana. 


Dismissed. 

.  Dismissed  to  W.  T.  Ass'n. 
ditto. 

.  Dismissed  to  W.  T.  Ass'n. 


Now  chosen  for  three  years. 

Moderator— 1 875-1 880,  H.Lyman;  Clerk— 1848,0.  Eells;  1856, 
P.  B.  Chamberlain;  1875,  J.  D.  Eaton,  pro  tern;  1876-1880,  M. 
Eells. 


Persons  Licensed. 


All  persons  licensed,  as  well  as  those  ordained  and  installed,  have 
not  been  thus  approved  by  this  body,  but  there  seems  to  be  no  more 
appropriate  place  for  a   list   of  such  persons  than  in  this  chapter: 
1862 — Sept.  D.  B.  Gray,  one  year;  by  the  General  Association. 
1863 —  do  do  do  do 


Congregational  Association.  73 

1864 — Sept.,E.  A.  Tanner,  one  year;  by  the  General  Association. 

1865 —  do  do  do  do 

1865  P.  S.  Knight,  one  year,  by  the  Ministerial  Association. 

J.  F.  Damon,         do  do 

1867 — June,  C.  A.  Hnntington,  do 

1869 —  do     William  Adams,  do  do 

1870 —  do  do  do  do 

187 1 —  do  do  three  years  do 
1871 —  do    C.A.Huntington,  do  do 

1577 —  do  Samuel  Greene,  one  year  do 

1578 —  do  do  do 
1878—  do  S.  S.  Markham,  do  do 
1878—  do  N.  W.  Lane,        do  do 

1578 —  do     C.  F.  Beattie,  two  years  do 

1579 —  do  N.  W.  Lane,  one  year  do 
1880 —  do     Edward  Rogers,  do  do 

Ordinations. 

1853 — April  7th,  Thomas  Condon,  at  Portland.  Sermon  by  G.  H. 
Atkinson;  charge  by  H.  Lyman;  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship by  H.  H.  Spalding. 

1863 — Sept.  20th,  D.  B.  Gray,  Albany,  Ogn.  Sermon  by  Rev.  S. 
H.  Marsh,  2  Tim.  1,2;  ordaining  prayer  by  Rev.  S. 
H.   Marsh;  charge  by  Rev.  O.  Dickinson. 

1866 — Mar.   ,  P.  S.  Knight,  Oregon   City,   Ogn.     Sermon  by 

Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.;  prayer  by    Rev.  O.  Dick- 
inson; charge  by  Rev.  H.  Lyman. 

1S67 — Sept. ,  J.  F.  Damon,  at  Albany. 

1869 — Nov.  16th,  Rev.  W.  J.  Clark,  Salem,  Ogn.  Sermon  by 
Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.;  ordaining  prayer  by  Rev. 
O.  Dickinson;  charge  by  Rev.  P.  S.  Knight;  right  hand 
of  fellowship  by  Rev.  P.  S.  Knight. 

1872 — June  19th,  J.  E.  Walker,  Forest  Grove,  Ogn.  Sermon  by 
Rev.  O.  Walker;-  prayer  by  Rev.  E.  Gerry;  charge 
by  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.;  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship by  Rev.  H.  Lyman. 

1872 — June    22d,    C.    A.   Huntington,  Portland,  Ogn.;  prayer  by 
Rev.  G.    H.  Atkinson,  D.D.;  charge  by   Rev.  T.  Con- 
don. 
6 


74  Congregational  Association. 

1879 — Sept.  ,  William  Capps,  at  Wenass,  W.  T.  Sermon,  or- 
daining prayer,  right  hand  of  fellowship  and  charge,  by 
Rev.  D.  B.  Gray. 

1S70—  Mar.  2 1  st,  Rev.  N.  W.  Lane,  M.  D.,  Port  Gamble,  W.  T. 
Sermon  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Ellis;  ordaining  prayer  and 
charge  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.;  right  hand  of 
fellowship,  Rev.  M.  Eells. 

Installations. 

1S53 — Oct.  33d,  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  over  the  church  at  Oregon 
City.  Sermon  by  Rev.  O.  Dickinson;  installation 
praver  by  Rev.  C.  Eells;  right  hand  of  fellowship  by 
Rev.  J.  S.  Griffin ;  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  H. 
Clarke;  charge  to  the  people  by  Rev.  H.  Lyman. 

1857 — (^ct-  28th,  Rev.  P.  B.  Chamberlain,  over  the  church  at  Port- 
land, Oregon.  Sermon  by  Rev.  S.  H.  Marsh;  installa- 
tion prayer,  Rev.  E.  Walker;  charge  to  pastor.  Rev. 
H.  Lyman;  charge  to  church,  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson. 

1871 — June,  iSth,  Rev.  W.  A.  Tenney,  over  the  church  at  Astoria, 
Oregon.     Sermon  by  Rev.  T.  Condon. 

This  association  is  composed  of  ordained  ministers  in  good  and 
regular  standing,  and  its  object  is  to  promote  fellowship  and  mutual 
improvement,  maintain  a  standard  of  ministerial  integrity  and 
faithfulness,  and  examine  and  license  candidates  for  the  ministry. 
In  connection  with  the  last  named  business,  is  a  standing  committee 
of  three  on  a  course  of  study,  elected  triennally.  Its  full  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws,  adopted  in  1S79,  were  published  with  the  minutes 
of  that  year. 


CHAPTER    XL— BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

MEMBERS. 


ESIDES  the  information  contained  in  this  chapter  a 
large  amount  has  been  gathered,  which  cannot  be  em- 
bodied here  for  want  of  space,  but  it  has  been  placed 
on  file  in  the  library  of  the  association.  A  few  only  of 
the  members  have  failed  to  give  the  information  requested.  One 
brother  suggested  that  the  same  information  should  also  be  pub- 
lished in  regard  to  the  ministers'  wives,  as  they  have  borne  an 
equal  share  in  the  labors,  and  often  more  than  a  half.  The  writer 
acknowledges  this,  but  want  of  space  has  obliged  him  to  limit  the 
sketches  to  actual  members. 

Harvey  Clark 
Was  born  at  Chester,  Vermont,  October  7,  1802;  came  to  Oregon 
1840;  pastor,  Forest  Grove,  1845-1854;  died,  March  25,  1S5S.     Me- 
morial resolutions  in  the  minutes  of  1858. 
Lewis  Thompson. 
Elkanah  Walker, 
Born,  North  Yarmouth,  Maine,  August  7,  1805;  graduated  Bangor 
Theological  Seminary,  1837;  ordained,  Brewer,.  Maine,  February, 
1838; came  to  Oregon,  1S38.     Missionary  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for   Foreign    Missions    among   Spokane    Indians,  183S- 
1848;    Oregon  City,  1S48-1S49;  Forest  Grove,    1S49-1877;  pastor 
Presbyterian  church  at  Forest  Grove,  1S54-1 856,  after  which  pastor 
or  joint  pastor  of  Congregational  church  for  fifteen  years;  died  at 
Forest  Grove,  November  21,  1S77.     Funeral  sermon  published  in 
1877.     Memorial  resolutions  in  minutes  of  1878. 

Gushing  Eells, 
Born,  Blandford,  Massachusetts,  February  16,  1S10;  graduated,  Wil- 
liams College,  1834,  and  East  Windsor  Theological  Seminary,  1S37; 
ordained,    Blandford,    Massachusetts,    October    25,   1837;  came  to 
Oregon,  1838.     Missionary  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 


76  Congregational  Association. 

Foreign  Missions  among  Spokane  Indians,  1838-1848.  Taught 
school  Salem,  1848-1849;  at  Forest  Grove,  1849-185 1  arkl  1S57- 
1860;  at  Hillsboro,  1851-1857;  established  Whitman  Seminary, 
Walla  Walla,  Washington  Territory,  and  taught  some  in  it,  1860- 
1872;  preached,  Skokomish,  Washington  Territory,  1872-1875; 
Colville,  1875,  Colfax,  1876. 

George  Henry  Atkinson,  D.D., 
Born,  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  May  10,  1819,  graduated  Dart- 
mouth College,  New  Hampshire,  1S43  and  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  Massachusetts,  1846;  ordained,  Newbury,  Vermont, 
February,  1847;  came  to  Oregon,  1S48;  pastor,  Oregon  City,  1848- 
1864;  at  Portland,  1S63-1S73;  General  Missionary  and  Superin- 
tendent of  Home  Missions,  1873,  and  as  such,  pastor  of  a  number 
of  churches. 

Henry  Spalding, 
Born,  Steuben  county,  New  York,  November  26,  1803;  graduated 
Western  Reserve  College,  Ohio,  1833,  and  Lane  Seminary,  Ohio; 
ordained,  1835,  on  tne  Chemung,  New  York,  by  Presbytery  of 
Bath;  came  to  Oregon,  1S36.  Missionary  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions  among  the  Nez  Perces,  1836-1847; 
pastor,  Calapooia,  184S-1859;  missionary  among  the  Nez  Perces, 
1S59-1874.     Died,  Lapwai,  Idaho,  August  3,  1874. 

Horace  Lyman, 
Born,  East  Hampton,  Massachusetts,  November  16,  1815;  grad- 
uated, Williams  College,  Massachusetts,  1S42;  studied  theology 
two  years  at  Auburn,  Nova  Scotia,  and  one  year  at  Andover,  Mas- 
sachusetts; ordained,  Castleton,  Vermont,  November  1,  1S48; 
arrived  in  Oregon,  November,  1849;  pastor,  Portland  and  Mil- 
waukee, 1849-1S54;  Dallas,  1854-1857;  Professor  Pacific  Univer- 
sity, 1 857-1 879;  pastor  or  joint  pastor  much  of  the  time  at  Forest 
Grove. 

D.   R.  Williams, 

Born,  Massachusetts, ;  came  to  Oregon  1850;  taught  school, 

Forest  Grove,  1850-1851;  preached  Salem,  1S52-1853;  returned 
East  in  1S53,  but  died  on  reaching  New  York  city. 

J.   W.  Goodell, 
Was   born   in   Massachusetts,  came  to    Oregon    at   an    early    day, 
moved  to  Washington  Territory,  1852;  died  about  1859. 


Congregational  Association.  77 

Sidney  Harper  Marsh, 
Born,  Hampden-Sidney  College,  Virginia,  August  29,  1825;  grad- 
uated, University  of  Vermont,  1S46,  studied  theology  at  Union 
Seminary,  New  York,  1851— '52 ;  came  to  Oregon,  1853;  president 
Pacific  University,  Forest  Grove,  1854-1879.  Pastor  or  joint  pastor 
at  same  place  much  of  the  time.  Died,  Foiest  Grove,  February  2, 
1879.     Memorial  resolutions  and  sketch  in  minutes  of  1879. 

Obed  Dickinson, 
Born,  Amherst,  Massachusetts,  June  15,  1818;  graduated  Marietta 
College,  Ohio,  1849,  and  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  Mas- 
sachusetts, 1S52;  ordained,  West  Andover,  Massachusetts,  1S52; 
came  to  Oregon  via  Cape  Horn,  arriving  March,  1853.  Pastor 
Salem,  March,  1853,  April,  1867.     In  business  Salem,  1867. 

Thomas  Condon, 
Born,  Dublin,  Ireland;  ordained,  Portland,  Oregon,  1S53;  pastor,  St. 
Helens,  1S53-1854;  at  Forest  Grove,  1854-1855;  at  Albany,  1855- 
1S61  ;at  The  Dalles,  1S61-1S73;  professor,  Pacific  University,  Forest 
Grove,  1873-1876,  and  at  State  University,  Eugene  City,  1876. 

Milton  B.  Starr, 
Born,  Ohio;  came  to   Oregon,  1S53;  pastor  Albany,  Corvallis  and 
Sand    Ridge,  1853-1863;  removed  to  California,  1863,  residence  in 
California,  1863. 

Peasley  P.  Chamberlain, 

Born,    New    Hampshire    ;  graduated    Bangor    Theological 

Seminary,  Maine, ;  came  to  Oregon,  1855;  pastor,  Portland, 

1S55— 1S62 ;  at  Walla  Walla,  Washington  Territory,  1S63;  teach- 
ing school    also    much    of  the    time. 

'William  Alfred  Tenny, 
Born,  St.  Albans,  Maine,  November  18,  1827;  graduated  Bangor 
Theological  Seminary,  Maine,  1856;  ordained  July  31,  1856,  at 
Bangor;  came  to  Oregon,  1S56;  pastor  Eugene  City,  1856-1857; 
Astoria,  1S57-1859;  Dalles,  1859-1S61;  Forest  Grove,  1861-1862; 
in  California  until  1871,  Astoria,  1871-1S75;  in  California  and  Mas- 
sachusetts, 1875. 

D.   B.  Gray, 

Born,  May  8,  1S36,  Fairhaven,  Preble  County,  Ohio;  came  to 
Oregon  1S51 ;  studied  theology  under  Rev.  W.  Blaine  and  Rev.  S. 
G.  Irvine,  Oregon;  licensed  and  ordained    in  Oregon  (see  chapter 


78  Congregational  Association. 

ten);  pastor,  Albany,  1862-1865;  Astoria,  1865-1S69;  in  Oakland, 
California,  1869- 1873,  when  he  returned  to  Oregon,  owing  to  fail- 
ure of  health;  in  business  Eugene  City,  1S73-1S77;  pastor,  Oregon 
City,  1877-1878;  The  Dalles,  1878. 

Edward  A.  Tanner,  D.D., 
Born,  Waverly,  Illinois,  November  29,  1S37;  graduated  Illinois 
College,  1857;  came  to  Oregon,  1861;  principal,  Tualatin  Academy 
and  professor,  Pacific  University,  1861-1S65;  studied  theology  pri- 
vately, licensed;  1864,  at  Salem;  returned  to  Illinois,  1S65,  as  pro- 
fessor in    Illinois   College;  ordained,   Chapin,   Illinois,   October   5, 

1873. 

P.  S.   Knight, 

Born,  Boston,   Massachusetts,   October   21,  1836;  came   to  Oregon 

1853;  studied  theology  privately;  licensed  and  ordained  in  Oregon, 

(see  chapter  ten);pastor  Oregon  City,  1S65-1867;  Salem,  1S67. 

John  F.  Damon, 
Was  born  in  Massachusetts,  licensed  and  ordained  in    Oregon,  (see 
chapter  ten);  pastor  Albany,  1865-1 868;  Seattle,  Washington   Ter- 
ritory,   1869-1873;    supplied    stations    at    Port    Gamble    and    Port 
Madison,  1874-1878,  when   his   health  failed.      Residence,  Seattle. 

Daniel  A.  Miles, 
Born,  Massachusetts;  came  to  Oregon,  1S67;  pastor,  Forest  Grove, 
1867-1869.     Health  failed  and  he  returned  to  Massachusetts. 

G.  A.  Huntington, 
Born,  Vergennes,  Vermont,  April  12,  [812;  came  to  Washington 
Territory,  1865;  studied  theology  privately ;  licensed  and  ordained 
in  Oregon,  (see  chapter  ten);  preached,  Olympia,  1871-74;  Indian 
Agent,  Neah  Bay,  1S74-1S77;  resided  in  Vermont,  1877-79; 
Olympia,  1879. 

J.  H.    D.   Henderson, 

Born,  Livingston  county,  Kentucky,  July  23,  18 10;  studied  theology 
under  Rev.  R.  D.  Morrow,  D.D.,  Columbus,  Ohio;  ordained  by 
Salt  River  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyte.ian  church, 
New  London,  Missouri,  183S;  preached  in  Missouri,  183S-1843; 
Pennsylvania,  1843-185 1;  Missouri,  185  1-1S52 ;  came  to  Oregon, 
1S52;  preached  in  Yamhill  county,  i852-'57;  at  Eugene  City  and 
vicinity,  1857. 

W.   R.  Butcher, 

Born,  September  25,  184 1,  Waldon,  Essex  county,  England,  came 


Congregational  Association.  79 


to  the  U.  S.  in  1S  (.7;  studied  civil  engineering  at  McGill  University, 

Montreal,  1859;  graduated   Chicago    Theological    Seminary,  1S69; 

ordained,  Galesburg,  Illinois,  June  15,  1869;  came  to  Oregon,  1869; 

pastor,  Albany,    1869-1873;  The  Dalles,   1873-1876;  returned   east 

to  Indiana,  1S76. 

E.   Gerry, 

Born,  Braintree,  Vermont,  July  5,  1837;  graduated  Middlebury, 
Vermont,  1S62,  and  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  Massachu- 
setts, 1S66;  ordained,  West  Randolph,  Vermont,  September  24, 
1S6S;  same  year  came  to  Oregon;  pastor,  Oregon  City,  1868-1872. 
Returned  to  Vermont. 

William  J.  Clark, 
Was  born  in  Perry  county,  Illinois,  December  28,  1832;  graduated 
Amherst  College,  Massachusetts,  1S64  Chicago  Theological  Sem- 
inary, 1S69;  came  to  Oregon,  1S69;  ordained,  November,  1869,  at 
Salem,  Oregon  (see  chapter  ten).  Pastor,  Astoria,  1869-1870, 
when  he  removed  to  California.  Present  pastorate  Oakalla,  Illinois. 

C.  M.  Blake, 
Was  born  at  Brewer,  Maine,  December  24,  1819;  came  to  Oregon, 

1S71. 

William  Royal   Joyslin, 

Born,  Lancaster,  New  Hampshire,  September  11,  1833;  graduated 
Dartmouth  College,  New  Hampshire,  1856,  and  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Massachusetts,  1861;  preached  a  year  at  Bath, 
New  Hampshire;  ordained,  Berlin,  Vermont,  February  4,1864; 
came  to  Oregon,  1S71;  pastor,  East  Portland,  1871-1873;  returned 
East;  present  residence,  Rochester,  Massachusetts. 

James  D.  Eaton, 
Born,  Lancaster,  Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  March  18,  1848;  grad- 
uated Beloit  College,  Wisconsin,  1869,  and  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  1S72;  ordained  Lancaster,  Wisconsin,  December  15, 
1S72;  same  year  came  to  Oregon;  pastor,  Portland,  1873-1876;  re- 
turned the  same  year  east,  New  Jersey,  1876. 

Norman    McXeod, 
came  to  Washington  Territory,  1873; pastor  Seattle,  1S73-1874;  re- 
turned to  Wisconsin,  1S74. 

Myron  Eells, 
Born,  Tsheinakain,  Spokane   county,  Washington   Territory,    Oc- 


80  Congregational   Association. 


tober  7,  1843;  graduated,  Pacific  University,  Oregon,  1S66;  Hart- 
ford Theological  Seminary,  1871;  ordained,  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
June  14,  1871;  pastor,  Boise  City,  Idaho,  1S71-1874;  Skokomish, 
Washington  Territory,  1874. 

Phares  Harrison, 
Born,  Almira,  New  York,  March  6,  1824;  studied  theology  under 
Dr.  Dempster,  founder  of  Theological  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord, 
New  Hampshire;  ordained,  Alden,  Iowa,  January  19,  1867;  pastor 
Iowa,  1 867-1868;  California,  1868-1872  ;  Sehome,  Washington  Ter- 
ritory, 1S72-1878;  assistant  Seaman's  Chaplain,  Seattle,  1S7S-1879; 
pastor,  North  Seattle,  Washington  Territory,  1880. 

Jacob  F.  Ellis, 
Born,  Fremont,  Ohio,  October  11,  1842,  graduated,  Wheaton  Col- 
lege, Illinois,  1869,  Oberlin  Theological  Seminary,  Ohio,  1873; 
ordained,  Toledo,  Ohio,  November  11,  1873;  came  to  Oregon  next 
year;  pastor  Forest  Grove,  1875-1876;  Seattle,  Washington  Ter- 
ritory, 1876. 

Frederick  Crang,  M.D. 

Born,  High  Littleton,  Somersetshire,  England,  April  11,  1S12; 
studied  theology,  Kingswood  College,  England;  ordained,  Bath, 
England,  July  19,  1834;  came  from  Missouri  in  1875;  pastor 
Astoria,  1875-1878;  physician  at  Forest  Grove,  1879. 

George  W.  Skinner, 
Came   to   Washington   Territory    1876;  pastor,  Olympia,  1S76;  re- 
turned to  Kansas  the  same  year;  Kansas,  1876. 

William  M.  Stewart, 
Born,  Brownsville,  Pennsylvania,    April  24,  1794;  ordained,  i860; 
came  to  Washington  Territory,  1874,  joined  Congregational  body, 
1876;  pastor,  Semiahmoo,  1876. 

Elisha  Godfrey, 
Born,  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  August  6,  1839;  studied  theol- 
ogy privately;  ordained,  Astoria,  Illinois,  by  United  Brethren 
church;  came  to  Oregon,  1873;  joined  Congregational  body,  1875; 
left  it  1879;  preached  and  farmed  in  Benton  county,  1875-1S79;  re- 
turned to  Illinois,  1879. 

John  A.  Gruzan, 
Born"  near-  Cross    Plains,  Ripley  county,   Indiana,  June   10,  1841, 
spent  two  years  at  Beloit   College,  Wisconsin,  closing,  1868;  grad- 


Congregational    Association. 


uated  Chicago  Theological  Seminary,  1871,  ordained,  St.  Charles, 
Illinois,  September  28,  187 1 ;  pastor,  Pennsylvania,  1874-1S76;  Mas- 
sachusetts, 1876-1 877;  came  to  Oregon,  1877;  pastor,  Portland,  1S77- 

1SS1. 

Walter  B.  Floyd, 

Born,  Alton,  Illinois,  November  13,  1834;  licensed,  Chicago  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  iS7S;came  to  Oregon,  1878;  pastor,  Albany,  187S- 
1S79;  returned  to  finish  theological  studies  at  New  Haven  Semi- 
nary,Connecticut,  1879. 

Robert  Sherwood  Stubbs, 
Born,  Scarborough,  Yorkshire,  England,  June  18,  iS23;cameto 
United  States,  1S48;  graduated,  Biblical  Institute,  Concord,  New 
Hampshire,  1853;  ordained  as  Deacon,  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Littleton,  New  Hampshire,  March,  1856,  and  as  elder  at 
Rochester,  New  Hampshire,  March,  1S5S;  came  to  Oregon,  1876, 
joined  Congregational  church,  1877,  Chaplain  American  Seamans' 
Friend  Society,  1876. 

S.  S.   Markham, 
Born,  Ohio,  1820;   came   to    Oregon,   1848;   licensed,  first    by    the 

Methodist    Episcopal   church  and    by    the    Congregational 

Association  in  1878;  preached,  South  Bay,  1878. 

N.  W.  Lane,  M.D., 
Born,  Harford,  Cortland  county,  New  York,  Nov.  7,  1838;  grad- 
uated Medical  Department,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  iS59;came 
to  Washington  Territory,  1877;  licensed  first  by  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  in  1878  by  Congregational  Association; 
ordained,  Port  Gamble,  Washington  Territory,  March  21,  18S0, 
(see  chapter  ten);  assistant  seamans'  chaplain,  Seattle,  187S-1879; 
pastor,  Port  Gamble,  1S79. 

Amos  W.  Bower, 
Born,  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  19,  1S52;  took 
partial  collegiate  course  at  York  Collegiate  Institution,  Pennsyl- 
vania; studied  theology  under  ProfessortJ.  W.  Bentz,  New  Berlin, 
Pennsylvania;  ordained,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  March  3,  1876,  by 
the  Evangelical  church;  joined  Congregational  body,  1879;  pastor, 

Oregon  City,  1S79. 

Erwin  W.  Allen, 

Born,   Vernon,  Oneida   county,  New   York,  November  20,   18 14, 

graduated,  Hamilton  College,  New  York,  1842,  studied  theology  at 


82  Congregational  Association. 

Auburn  Theological  Seminary;  ordained,  1852,  Kirtland,  Ohio; 
preached,  New  York,  1852-1857  and  1863-1S73;  Ohio,  1857-1863; 
came  to  Washington  Territory,  1872;  preached,  Dayton,  1872. 

H.  T.  Cowley, 
Born,  Seneca  Falls,  New  York,  October  9,  1838;  graduated, 
Antioch  College,  Ohio,  1867,  Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  New 
York,  187 1 ;  ordained,  Leroy,  New  York,  by  Genesee  Presbytery, 
1 871;  came  to  Idaho  same  year,  as  missionary  to  Nez  Perces  In- 
dians, 1871-1873;  Mount  Idaho,  1873-1874;  missionary  to  Spokane 
Indians,  W.  T.,  1874-1879;  joined  Congregational  body,  1879; 
pastor,  Spokane  Falls,  1879. 

C.  F.  Beattie, 
Born,    Washington   county,   Virginia,  October    11,  1827;  came  to 
Oregon,  1850;  licensed  by  Methodist  Church,  1855;  joined  Congre- 
gational body,  1878;  preached,  Beaver  Creek,  1878. 

William  Capps, 
Born,  Piatt ville,   Wisconsin,  February    14,  1840;  came  to   Oregon, 
1S47;  studied  theology  privately;  licensed  first  by  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  1875;  joined   Congregational  church,  1S79;  ordained, 
1879.     (See  chapter  ten.) 

J.  W.   Watts, 

Born,  Pike  county,  Missouri,  November  6,  1S30;  came  to  Oregon, 

1852;  ordained  in  Oregon,  1865;  resided  and   preached  in   Yamhill 

county,    1865-1879;    Oregon    City,    1S79;  joined    Congregational 

Association,  1880. 

E.   P.   Roberts, 

Born,  Dorset,  Bennington  county,  Vermont,  October  23,  1825; 
graduated,  Williams  College,  Massachusetts,  1854;  Bangor  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  1S57;  came  to  Oregon,  1861;  pastor,  Eight-Mile 
Creek,  1879. 

S.  S.  Van  Dersal, 

pastor,  Forest  Grove,  1S77. 

The  following  persons,  although  not  regularly  connected  with 
the  association,  have  been  so  related  to  its  history  that  sketches  of" 
their  lives  are  inserted. 

Marcus  Whitman,  M.D., 
Born,  Rushville,  New  York,  Sept.  4,  1802,  departed  on  exploring 
tour  under  American    Board   of  Commissioners  for   Foreign   Mis- 
sions, February,  1835^0  Rocky  Mountains; returned,  August,  1835, 


Congregational  Association.!  83 

married  February,  1836,  to  Narcissa  Prentiss,  daughter  of  Hon. 
Stephen  Prentiss,  who  was  born  Prattsburg,  New  York,  March 
14,  1808;  came  to  Oregon,  1836,  under  American  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  Foreign  Missions  as  missionaries,  Walla  Walla  1836- 
1847.  He  returned  East,  1842,  came  back,  1843,  leading  first  emi- 
gration of  wagons,  both  massacred  by   Cayuse  Indians,  November 

29,  1847. 

J.  E.  Walker, 

Born,  Tsheinakain,  Spokane  county,  Washington  Territory,  Feb- 
ruary 10, 1844;  graduated,  Pacific  University,  Oregon,  1S68;  Bangor 
Theological  Seminary,  Maine,  1871;  ordained,  Forest  Grove, 
Oregon,  1872  (see  chapter  ten);  Missionary,  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign   Missions,  Fuhchau,  China,   1872-1876; 

Shaowu,  China,  1876. 

James  W.  Harris, 

Born,  Cornwall,  England,  April  1831;  studied  in  Beloit  College, 
Wisconsin;  studied  theology  privately;  ordained,  Grand  Rapids, 
Wisconsin,  February,  1862;  pastor,  Grand  Rapids,  i86i-'7;  Evans- 
ville,  Wisconsin,  i86S-'77.  The  Dalles,  Oregon,  1S77— '78;  returned 
east,  1878;  Albany,  Oregon,  1879. 

J.  A.  Banfleld, 
Born,  Lancaster,  New  Hampshire,  January  23,  1838;  studied  theol- 
ogy privately ;  ordained,  Louisville,  Kansas,  March  8,  1868;  preached 
and  taught  school,  Kansas,  1868-1874;  California,  1874-1878;  came 
to  Washington  Territory,  1878;  pastor,  New  Tacoma,  1879. 


CHAPTER     XII.— HISTORICAL      SKETCHES     OF     THEl 

CHURCHES. 


(During  1880  most  of  these  sketches  were   published  in  the  Pacific,  previous  td 
being  gathered  in  pamphlet  form.) 

OREGON  CITY,  OREGON. 

Rev.   Harvey  Clark 

AS  preaching  to  a  little  company  of  settlers  at  this  placet 

in   1844,  wnen  it  was   proposed  to  organize  a   church  J 

Three    brethren    were    desirous    of    uniting  —  P.    H.] 

Hatch,  Robert  Moore  and  O.  Russell.     This  was  dona 

May  25,  1S44,  and  it  was  called  the  First  Presbyterian  church  oil 

the    Willamette    Falls.     Mr.   Clark    went    from    his    residence    at' 

Forest  Grove,  about  thirty  miles  distant,  to  minister  to  the  churchj 

Mr.  P.  H.  Hatch  was  ordained  as  an  elder  by  Rev.  L.  Thompson^ 

a  Presbyterian  minister,  who  preached  at  the  place  a  few  times  inn 

1847. 

Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson 

Arrived  in  that  place  June  21,  1848,  having  been  sent  out  by  the! 
American  Home  Missionary  Society,  with  little  knowledge  of  what 
had  been  done,  and  found  the  church  increased  to  seven  members, 
with  preaching  hardly  once  a  month,  but  sustaining  a  Sabbath- 
school  in  connection  with  the  Baptist  church,  Mr.  Hatch  coming 
four  miles  on  foot,  or  in  an  ox  wagon,  in  order  to  superintend  it. 

After  consultation  with  Mr.  Clark,  it  was  arranged  that  Mr. 
Atkinson  should  remain  at  Oregon  City.  His  first  service  was 
held  in  the  south  room  of  a  house  owned  by  Mr.  Hatch;  and  after- 
wards the  room  known  as  the  court-room  was  fitted  up  by  Messrs. 
Hiram  Clark,  M.  Perrin  and  others,  and  rented  for  church  services.! 
Mr.  Moore,  the  leading  Presbyterian  member,  having  withdrawn 
in  order  to  help  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Linn  City,  in  1849 
the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  to  the  First  Congregational 
church  of  Oregon  City. 


Congregational   Association.  85 

About  the  same  time  the  society  was  formed  and  incorporated, 
and  the  lot  on  which  the  church  now  stands  was  bought  for  $250. 
After  two  years,  the  influx  of  U.  S.  troops  compelled  the  church 
to  move  from  the  court-room,  when  they  worshipped  in  the  base- 
ment of  a  house  which  in  1876  was  owned  by  Thomas  Charman, 
(Esq.;  but  in  August,  1850,  the  wandering  ark  settled  down  in  its 
present  church-building,  which  was  then  dedicated— the  first  formal 
dedication  of  a  church  in  Oregon,  and  probably  of  a  Protestant 
hurch  on  the  Pacific  coast.  Mr.  Atkinson  preached  the  sermon, 
and  was  assisted  in  the  other  services  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Wilbur  of  the 
M.  E.  church,  Rev.  H.  Johnson  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  St.  M. 
Fackler  of  the  Episcopal  church.  Only  $1,600  of  the  entire  cost — 
$3,900 — was,  however,  then  subscribed.  The  rest  was  on  the 
pastor's  hands,  everything  having  been  very  expensive — lumber, 
$80  a  thousand;  carpenter's  wages,  $10  a  day;  windows,  $20  each; 
^nd  other  things  in  proportion.  Mr.  Atkinson  had  done  much  of 
the  work  of  clearing  the  lots,  stacking  the  lumber,  and  carrying 
brick  and  mortar,  as  much  of  the  male  population  had  gone  to  the 
newly  discovered  gold  mines  of  California. 

Dr.  Atkinson  remained  as  pastor  about  fifteen  years,  though 
rnuch  of  the  time  he  was  necessarily  engaged  in  other  work.  He 
had  preaching  stations  at  Clear  creek,  the  Philip  Foster  settlement, 
Clackamas  City,  James  Barlow's,  Boggs'  prairie,  Baker  and  Marks' 
prairie,  Linn  City  and  Milwaukee.  He  also  aided  in  the  preliminary 
work  at  Portland,  which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  church 
at  that  place;  and  in  1854  and  1855,  when  it  was  without  a  pastor, 
he  was  called  there  from  one-third  to  one-half  the  time.  Educa- 
tion, too,  occupied  much  of  the  pastor's  thoughts,  who  aided  very 
greatly  in  establishing  Tualatin  Academy  and  Pacific  University 
and  the  Clackamas  County  Female  Seminary,  constantly  serving 
pn  their  boards  of  Trustees;  going  east  in  1852,  where  he  remained 
ten  months  in  the  inteiests  of  both  institutions,  and  teaching  for 
one  year,  about  186 1-2,  in  the  latter,  which  had  become  a  graded 
free  school,  by  means  of  which  he  freed  himself  from  debt,  the 
first  time  for  fifteen  years.  The  church  and  congregation  also  very 
naturally  became  interested  in  the  same  cause,  and  contributed  lib- 
erally to  both  institutions.  Dr.  Atkinson  also  took  much  interest 
in  public  schools,  and  was  the  first  school  commissioner  of  Clack- 
amas county. 


Congregational  Association. 


In  1854-5  *-ne  church  enjoyed  a  revival,  and  about  twenty  new 
members  were  added  to  it.  In  1848  Mrs.  Atkinson  began  a  young 
ladies'  sewing  circle,  which  continued  in  various  ways,  as  long  as 
she  remained  with  them.  In  1857-8  the  front  ten  feet,  with  tower 
and  bell,  were  added,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  In  1863  Dr.  Atkinson, 
having  been  called  to  Portland,  left  the  place;  and,  in  his  fifteenth 
anniversary  sermon,  stated  that  up  to  that  time,  eighty-two  mem- 
bers had  been  enrolled,  seven  of  whom  were  on  the  roll  in  1848, 
thirty-eight  having  united  by  letter,  and  thirty-seven  on  profession 
of  faith,  of  whom  forty-eight  still  remained.  The  church  and 
congregation  had  contributed  $4,073  for  their  pastor's  support, 
$9,624.79  for  other  home  work,  and  $1,561  for  benevolent  societies; 
or,  an  average  of  $1,043.92  each  year  for  all  purposes.  The  pastor, 
in  addition,  had  received  from  the  Home  Missionary  Society 
$7,600.  Dr.  Atkinson  continued  to  visit  the  church  as  long  as  it 
had  no  pastor,  until  1S65,  on  communion  Sabbaths,  and  the  Sabbath- 
school  and  prayer-meeting  were  kept  up  during  that  period. 

Rev.  P.  S.  Knight 
Became  pastor  in   1865,  and  continued  so  until    1867,  when  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Salem.     During  his  pastorate  there  was  a  net  gain 
of  twelve  to  the  church.     Again   there  was    an   interregnum   until 
November,  1868,  when 

Rev.  E.  Gerry, 

Coming  directly  from  the  east,  became  its  pastor,  and  remained 
until  November,  1872,  when  he  returned  to  Vermont.  During 
this  time  several  were  added  to  the  church.  Again  Dr.  Atkinson, 
who  had  become  General  Missionary  of  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  for* 
Oregon,  was  called  to  watch  over  the  church,  and  he  preached  to 
it  once  or  twice  a  month  until  1S77,  though  residing  at  Portland. 
During  this  time  nearly  sixty  persons  united  with  the  church,  there 
having  been  a  revival  in  the  place  in  the  spring  of  1876,  when 
thirty-three  were  added  on  profession  of  faith.  An  interesting 
feature  of  the  church  has  been  the  union  communion  services  held 
in  connection  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  the  place 
from  1863  to  1865,  and  from  1873  to  1S76,  the  M.  E.  church  unit- 
ing with  this  one  in  the  morning,  and  the  Congregational  church 
going  to  the  other  in  the  evening. 

Rev,  D.  B.  Gray, 
January  1,  1877,  became  pastor,  and  he  remained  there  until  Oc- 


Congregational  Association.  S7 


tober,  1878,  under  whom  the  church  continued  to  grow  in  grace 
and  numbers,  about  twenty-six  persons  having  been  added  to  the 
church.  He  having  resigned,  to  accept  a  call  at  The  Dalles,  the 
church  secured  the  services  of 

Rev.  A.  W.  Bower 
In  1879,  who  came  from  the  Evangelical  church,  and  who  remains 
as  its  present  pastor.  The  whole  number  who  have  been  received 
as  members  of  the  church,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  has  been 
one  hundred  and  ninety-five,  of  whom  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
have  been  by  profession  of  faith  and  the  rest  by  letter.  Sixty-four 
have  been  dismissed  to  other  churches,  eight  excommunicated, 
and  nine  have  died,  leaving  one  hundred  and  fourteen  on  the  roll, 
January  1st,  1S80,  of  whom  fifty  are  out  of  reach  of  the  church 
and  of  no  help  to  it. 

FOREST  GROVE,  OREGON. 

The  First  Church  of  Tualatin  Plains,  of  which  Rev.  J.  S.  Griffin 
was  acting  pastor,  was  organized  June,  1842,  not  far  from  Hillsboro, 
and  about  eight  miles  from  Forest  Grove.  Nine  persons  united  in 
this  organization,  of  whom  five  or  six  lived  near  Forest  Grove. 
On  account  of  their  distance  from  the  church,  they  desired  to  have 
it  removed  to  some  place  near  their  residences.  A  meeting  for  this 
purpose  was  called  in  1845,  ano-  **  was  v°ted  so  to  do;  but  owing 
to  some  irregularity  in  regard  to  the  meeting,  there  were  some 
who  claimed  that  the  church  was  not  so  removed.  Several  years 
later,  at  a  council  called  to  decide  some  questions  of  difficulty,  it 
was  given  as  its  opinion,  that,  while  the  original  church  remained 
near  Hillsboro,  that  action,  together  with  the  regular  meeting  after- 
wards held,  and  the  administration  of  the  ordinances,  was  sufficient 
to  establish  the  church  of  Forest  Grove.  Some  have  contended 
that  the  church  never  was  organized ;  nevertheless,  it  is  certain  that 
it  has  long  existed.     Soon  after  this  vote,  in  1845, 

Rev.  Harvey  Clark 
Became  its  acting  pastor,  and  so  continued  until  1S54.  A  log 
house  was  erected  during  the  first  part  of  his  ministry,  which  was 
the  church  home  until  about  1857.  It  was  also  used  for  a  time  as  a 
school  house,  where  Pacific  University,  in  embryo,  began  its  ex- 
istence.    It  had  at  first  a  puncheon  floor  and  seats,  batten  door,  logs 


Congregational  Association. 


cut  away  to  receive  a  few  panes  of  glass  for  windows,  and  cracks 
in  the  floor  at  times  so  large  that  the  writer,  then  a  small  boy,  was 
able  to  put  his  foot  through  them. 

Camp  meetings  were  held  in  1847,  1S4S  and  1857,  which  resulted 
in  the  addition  of  some  to  the  church,  though  not  always  attended 
with  as  much  success  as  was  desired.  The  early  records  of  the 
church  were  burned,  in  185 1,  with  the  house  of  the  clerk,  Deacon 
T.  G.  Naylor,  and  on  the  opening  of  the  new  record  book,  after 
this  fire,  about  thirty  persons  claimed  to  be  members  and  were 
acknowledged  as  such.  In  1852  unfortunate  difficulties  arose  which 
resulted  in  the  withdrawal  of  a  few  of  the  members  and  the  organ- 
ization of  a  Presbyterian  church,  which  for  several  years  held 
separate  services  very  near.  Various  attempts  were  made  to  rec- 
oncile the  two  churches  and  the  next  year  the  separate  services 
ceased;  but  it  was  not  until  January,  1856,  that  most  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  joined  the  Congregational  church. 
In    1S54  Mr.  Clark,  owing  mainly   to  failing  health,  resigned,  and 

Rev.  T.  Condon 
Occupied  his  place  for  a  year.  During  that  time  four  united  with 
the  church  on  profession,  and  five  by  letter.  The  church  wanted 
him  to  remain  longer,  but  he  felt  that  he  could  do  more  good  near 
Albany,  and  so  lesigned.  The  resident  ministers,  Revs.  H.  Clark, 
S.  H.  Marsh  and  E.  Walker,  supplied  the  pulpit  during  the  next 
year,  and  in  March,  1856,  after  several  of  the  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  had  united  with  the  Congregational  church,  their 

former  pastor, 

Rev.  E.  Walker, 

Became  the  acting  pastor.  During  his  ministry  the  church  re- 
moved its  home  to  the  chapel  of  the  college  for  a  time,  while  at 
the  same  time  making  arrangements  to  erect  a  building.  This  was 
begun  in  1858,  and  dedicated  October  26,  1859,  and  cost  about 
seven  thousand  dollars.  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson  preached  the  ser- 
mon, and  Rev.  E.  Walker  offered  the  dedicatory  prayer.  After 
all  moneys  possible  had  been  raised  by  subscription,  a  debt  of  near 
eleven  hundred  dollars  was  left;  but  before  the  dedication  a  number 
of  the  members  assumed  the  debt  on  the  basis  of  their  assessment  as 
each  man's  proportion.  Most  of  the  time  until  1S61,  Mr.  Walker 
acted  as  pastor;  but  Revs.  H.  Lyman,  S.  H.  Marsh  and  C.  Eells 
aided  in  the  preaching  definite  parts  of  the  time.     During   these 


Congregational  Association.  89 

five  years  fifty  persons  united  with  the  church,  thirty-two  of  them 
on  profession  of  faith. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Tenney 
Became  pastor    in    May,  1861,  and  continued  so  for    about  a  year 
and  a  half,  when  he  resigned.     His  resignation  was  reluctantly  ac- 
cepted, and    he    removed  to    California.     Two   persons   joined  the 
church  on  profession  of  faith  during  his  ministry. 

Revs.  H.  Lyman,  S.  H.  Marsh,  D.  D.,  and  E.  'Walker, 
Filled  the  pulpit  until  1S67,  each  acting  as  pastor  at  different  times. 
During  this  time  the  patriotic  impulses  of  the  church  were  greatly 
stirred,  and  much  was  done  to  aid  the  soldiers  of  the  Union.  Ten 
persons  united  with  the  church,  three  of  them  by  letter.  The 
same  persons  acted  in  a  similar  capacity  from  February,  1S69,  until 
January,  1S75 ;  but  during  a  short  part  of  the  time  Prof.  T.  Condon 
aided  in  supplying  the  pulpit.  In  1S72  Mr.  J.  E.  Walker,  a 
member  of  the  church,  was  ordained  in  it  to  the  foreign  missionary 
work,  and  left  soon  after  for  his  field  in  China.  During  this  time 
thirty-two  persons  joined  the  church,  eighteen  on  profession  of  faith. 
Rev.  D.  A.  Miles  came  from  the  east  to  act  as  pastor,  February,  1867, 
and  remained  two  years,  during  which  time  seven  persons  were 
added  on  profession  of  faith. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Ellis, 
Of  Toledo,  Ohio,  came  by  invitation,  and  acted  as  pastor  for  a  year 
and  a  half.  In  the  early  part  of  his  ministry  a  revival  took  place, 
when  seven  more  joined,  and  others  afterwards.  For  the  next  six 
months  the  church  was  plastered  anew  and  repainted  inside,  when 
there  was  no  regular  supply;  but  from  January  to  July,  1877,  Dr. 
Marsh    acted    as    pastor.     In  the    fall  of  1877  arrangements  were 

made  with 

Rev.   S.    S.   Van  Dersal 

To  act  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  as  well  as  the   Methodist 

Episcopal  church,  he  having  been  sent  to  the  circuit  by  the  M.  E. 

Conference,  and  to  preach    in    the    Congregational    edifice.     This 

plan    proved  so  satisfactory  that  it  was  continued   for   two  years, 

when   Mr.  Van  Dersal  withdrew  from  the  Conference,  and  is  now 

pastor  of  the  Congregational  church. 

The  Sabbath-school    has    been  constantly    kept    up    since     1849' 

mainly  under  the  superintendence  of  Rev.  C.  Eells,  E.  A.  Tanner, 

C.  H.    Walker,  M.    Eells,  J.    E.    Walker,  J.   VV.    Marsh,  John   R. 


9° 


Congregational   Association. 


Walker,  L.  C.  Walker,  J.  D.  Robb,  and  has  done  great  good  to  the 
church.  Contributions  for  home  and  foreign  missions  have  been 
made  regularly  all  the  time  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  and 
monthly  missionary  concerts  have  been  kept  up,  averaging  thirty- 
five  or  forty  dollars  annually  for  both  objects.  Annual  contribu- 
tions have  been  taken  for  the  Bible  Society.  Much  was  done  for 
the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions  during  the  war,  and  since 
that  time  for  the  American  Missionary  Association;  but  definite 
figures  have  not  been  kept  sufficient  to  give  any  correct  statement 
of  the  amount  so  raised.  Tualatin  Academy  and  Pacific  University 
have  shared  very  largely  in  the  benefactions  and  labors  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  and  in  return  a  good  share  of  those  who  have 
joined  the  church  on  profession  of  faith  have  been  students  of  the 
institution.  Three  of  those  who  have  acted  as  pastors  have  gone 
directly  from  this  church  to  the  great  church  above  Revs.  H. 
Clark,  in  1858;  E.  Walker,  in  1877;  and  S.  H.  Marsh,  D.D.,  in 
1879. 

It  has  been  but  natural  that  a  church  so  closely  connected  with 
the  college  should  often  lose  many  of  its  members,  as  the  scholars 
left  and  went  to  take  their  places  in  the  world,  and  thus  it  has  been 
emphatically  a  missionary  church,  scattering  its  rays  far  and  vvide; 
and  this  accounts  in  a  great  measure  for  the  large  number  who 
have  been  dismissed  by  letter,  and  the  absentees.  The  whole  num- 
ber, as  far  as  known,  who  have  oeen  received  into  the  church  by 
letter  has  been  fifty-seven;  on  profession  of  faith,  eighty-eight;  un- 
known, mainly  owing  to  the  burning  of  records,  seventeen;  total, 
one  hundred  and  sixty-two.  There  have  been  dismissed  by  letter, 
fifty-seven;  by  death,  twenty-one;  by  excommunication,  three;  un- 
known, thirteen;  leaving  on  the  roll  January  1,  18S0,  sixty- 
eight,  including  twenty-two  absentees.  The  church  has  been 
mainly  self-supporting,  Revs.  Walker,  Miles  and  Ellis  having  re- 
ceived aid  from  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  $4,450  in  all. 

MILWAUKIE. 

In  1850,  soon  after  the  arrival  of  Rev.  H.  Lyman  at  Portland, 
when  it  was  doubtful  which  of  the  two  places  would  be  the  com- 
mercial metropolis  of  Oregon,  a  church  of  three  members  was 
organized  at  this  place,  of  which  Mr.  Lyman  became  pastor,  and 


Congregational  Association.  91 


where  he  preached  once  a  month.  A  small  but  interesting  Sabbath 
school  was  held,  and  there  was  for  a  time  a  purpose  to  erect  a 
church  building.  Time,  however,  soon  decided  that  Portland 
would  be  the  successful  place,  and  the  members  moved  away. 


PORTLAND. 

In  1848  Portland  began  to  show  signs  of  being  a  town  and  the 
same  year  Revs.  H.  Clark  and  J.  S.  Griffin  preached  there  occa- 
sionally. In  the  early  part  of  1849  R-ev-  G.  H.  Atkinson  went 
from  Oregon  City  and  held  two  services,  one  in  a  log  shingle  shop, 
with  batten  door,  a  row  of  glass  set  in  a  log  for  a  window  and 
shingle  blocks  for  seats;  and  the  other  in  an  old  shingled  ware- 
house, the  congregation  crowding  in  among  bales  and  boxes  of 
goods.  The  same  year  arrangements  were  made  for  regular  ser- 
vices once  in  two  weeks  by  Revs.  Atkinson,  Clark  and  C.  Eells, 
and  lots  were  selected  which  were  afterwards  deeded  to  the  church, 
by  D.  H.  Lownsdale,  on  which  the  church  now  stands.  Regular 
services  were  not  continued  very  long,  however,  but  in  November, 

1849, 

Rev.  Horace  Lyman 

And  wife,  who  had  been  sent  out  from  New  York  a  year  previous, 
arrived,  and  after  consultation  it  was  decided  to  be  best  for  him  to 
reside  in  Portland,  to  teach  school  in  the  same  place,  and  to  divide 
his  ministerial  labors  between  Milwaukee  and  Portland.  They 
were  sixty  days  in  travelling  from  San  Francisco  to  Portland  and 
two  more  in  going  to  Oregon  City.  In  1850  it  became  evident 
that  a  church  building  was  needed  as  well  as  a  home  for  the  pastor, 
but  the  work  was  very  great,  the  lots  were  to  be  cleared  of  heavy 
fir  timber,  subscriptions  were  to  be  obtained,  and  everything  was 
to  be  done.  Mr.  L.,  however,  put  all  his  energies  to  the  work,  and 
five  thousand  dollars  in  money  and  lots  was  easily  secured;  but  the 
manual  labor  which  fell  on  the  pastor,  the  superintending  of  the 
work,  and  the  preaching  were  too  much  lor  him,  and  brought  on 
chills  and  fever.  After  he  recovered  Mrs.  L.  was  taken  sick.  The 
autumn  brought  relief,  so  that  Mr.  L.'s  dwelling  was  made  habit- 
able, but  the  church  building  was  necessarily  deferred  ^o  another 
year.  During  the  succeeding  winter  Mr.  L.  was  brought  very 
near  the  gates  of  death  through  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  the  re- 


92  Congregational  Association. 

suit  of  a  cold  obtained  by  exposure.  He  rallied,  however,  in  the 
spring,  and  prosecuted  the  church  work  with  vigor  so  that  the 
building  was  dedicated  June  15,  i85i,and  a  church  often  members 
was  organized.  Everything  worked  on  prosperously  until  the  fall 
of  1852;  the  ladies  furnished  the  church,  a  weekly  prayer  meeting 
was  sustained,  and  Mr.  L.  aided  strongly  in  establishing  a  free 
school  against  much  opposition,  an  effort  directly  connected  with 
the  present  admirable  system  of  free  schools  of  the  city. 

In  the  fall  of  1852  Dr.  Yantis,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  came 
to  the  city,  and  through  his  efforts  and  those  of  his  successor,  Rev. 
Mr.  Whitworth,  the  church  and  congregation  was  divided.  A 
good  share  of  the  members  were  Presbyterian,  and  it  was  expected 
that  this  division  would  in  time  take  place,  but  at  this  time  it  was 
premature,  for  the  Presbyterian  church  died,  and  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  were  greatly  weakened.  Mr.  Lyman  continued  on  in  the 
work  until  May,  1854,  when  he  removed  to  Dallas,  and  the  life  of 
the  church,  numbering  then  only  twenty-two  members,  seems  to 
have  been  saved  only  by  securing  the  services  of  Rev.  G.  H.  At- 
kinson half  of  the  time.  That  was  an  injury  to  the  Oregon  City 
church,  however,  but  kept  the  one  at  Portland  together.  After  a 
year  and  half  of  effort 

Rev.  P.  B.  Chamberlain 
Was  secured  from  the  east,  who  arrived  in  November,  1855,  and 
was  the  first  and  only  installed  pastor.  A  two-thousand  dollar 
debt  was  soon  paid,  the  Presbyterians  returned,  congregations 
largely  increased  and  the  church  became  independent  of  home 
missionary  aid.  His  pastorate  covered  five  and  a  half  years,  but 
toward  the  close  of  it  the  Presbyterians  again  withdrew  and  organ- 
ized their  present  church,  ind  the  church  was  reduced  at  one  time 
to  twenty  members.  In  March,  1862,  Mr.  Chamberlain's  pastorate 
closed  and  for  fifteen  months  the  church  tried  to  secure  some  one 
from  the  east.     Failing  in  this,  they  invited 

Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D., 
To  be  their  shepherd.  He  accepted  and  July,  1863,  he  removed 
from  Oregon  City  to  Portland  and  began  work.  In  the  Doctor's 
words  "  the  church  and  congregation  were  small  but  united."  The 
spirit  of  prayer  and  patient  toil  was  manifest.  It  was  deemed  no 
hardship  to  come   through   mud  and    rain  to  Sabbath   worship  and 


Congregational  Association.  93 

to  the  weekly  prayer  meeting-.  The  annual  week  of  prayer  often 
continued  a  month.  The  evangelist,  Rev.  A.  B.  Earle,  visited 
the  city  in  1867,  and  many  were  added  to  this  church  as  well  as  to 
the  others  in  the  place.  The  old  house  of  worship  became  too 
small  and  in  1S70  the  present  house  of  worship  was  begun,  which 
was  finished  the  next  year  at  a  cost  of  $20,000,  the  ladies  furnish- 
ing between  two  and  three  thousand  of  the  amount,  and  it  was 
dedicated  August  6,  1871.  During  his  pastorate,  the  system  of 
weekly  giving  was  earnestly  urged  upon  and  accepted  by  the 
church.  $39,740.08  were  raised  for  all  purposes,  and  an  average 
of  fifteen  members  each  year  were  added  to  the  church.  His  labors 
closed  December  31,  1872,  and  he  was  immediately  followed  by 

Rev  J.  D.  Eaton, 
Who  labored  until  May,  1876.  In  1875  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond 
spent  some  time  in  the  city.  This  church  united  in  his  labors,  and  re- 
ceived as  a  result  about  forty  into  her  membership,  and  fifty-one 
others  were  received  during  his  pastorate.  During  the  same  time 
$9,650.75  were  raised  for  all  purposes,  an  average  of  nearly  $3,- 
261.72  a  year,  $2,077  °^  which  came  annually  from  the  plan  of 
weeklv  offerings.  After  his  resignation  there  was  a  vacancy  of 
nearly  a  year,  during  six  months  of  which  time  Rev.  J.  H.  Acton, 
of  the   M.  E.  church,  supplied  the  pulpit.     His  work  ceased  April 

8th,  1S77,  when 

Rev.  J.  A.  Cruzan 

Began  his  labors.  In  1879  a  troublesome  debt  of  two  thousand 
dollars  was  paid.  One  hundred  and  twelve  persons  have  been 
added  to  the  membership  during  the  thi-ee  years  of  his  pastorate, 
the  number  being  now  two  hundred  and  forty-three.  The  church 
has  colonized  several  times;  in  1871  to  help  in  organizing  the 
church  at  East  Portland,  and  again  in  1879  when  the  one  at  North 
Portland  was  formed,  and  she  has  also  given  largely  of  labor  and 
means  to  aid  those  churches.  The  Mount  Zion  church  has  also  re- 
ceived considerable  aid  from  her,  especially  in  the  labor  preliminary 
to  the  organization. 

SALEM,  OREGON. 

[Prepared  mainly  from  a  paper  furnished  by  its  present  pastor,  Rev.  P.  S.  Knight.] 
In  November,  185 1,  Rev.  D.  R.  Williams  went  to  the  place  and 


94  Congregational  Association. 

began  preaching,  while  at  the  same  time  he  supported  himself  by 
teaching  school.  The  church  was  organized  July  4,  1852,  with 
four  members,  Mr.  Isaac  N.  Gilbert,  Mrs.  Marietta  Gilbert,  Mr. 
Albert  Fellows  and  Mrs.  L.  L.  Williams.  Its  first  place  of  meet- 
ing was  in  the  old  school-house  which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Marion 
and  Commercial  streets.  The  same  year — but  previous  to  the 
organization — Mr.  Williams  left  for  the  east,  and  died  on  reaching 
New  York.  For  a  few  months  the  young  church  was  ministered 
toby   Rev.  J.  W.  Goodell,  a   transient   minister.     In   March,  1853, 

Rev.  O.  Dickinson 
Arrived  from  the  east  and  began  a  ministry  which  continued  more 
than  fourteen  years.  In  1854  a  small  house  of  worship  was  fitted 
up,  which  was  used  until  the  present  building  was  dedicated,  August 
28,  1863.  During  the  first  years  of  its  existence  the  church  re- 
ceived aid  from  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  but  in 
i860,  at  the  age  of  eight,  it  became  self-supporting.  April  1,  1867, 
Mr.  Dickinson  resigned,  when  eighty-eight  names  were  on  the 
church  roll;  and  at  the  same  time 

Rev.  P.  S.  Knight 
Became  pastor.  The  church  passed  through  several  revival 
seasons  during  both  the  first  and  second  pastorates,  and  the  total 
number  received  into  its  fellowship,  by  letter  and  profession,  has 
been  three  hundred  and  six  to  April  1,  18S0.  At  that  time  there 
were  something  over  two  hundred  members  on  the  roll,  though 
quite  a  number  of  them  are  marked  "absent."  But  a  small  part  of 
this  growth  has  resulted  from  additions  by  letter,  and  in  the  last 
fifteen  years  it  has  sent  out  more  than  it  has  received  in  that  way. 
What  it  has  gained  has  been  by  moulding  the  material  within 
its  reach.  Though  it  has  no  wealthy  members,  and  has  had  to 
struggle  with  difficulties,  yet  it  has  never  known  the  burden  of  a 
debt.  It  has  had  no  case  of  discipline  in  twelve  years.  Its  revival 
seasons  have  come  as  divine  blessings  upon  its  own  work,  without 
other  human  help.  Its  Sabbath-school  has  always  been  full  of  life 
and  shown  many  good  results.  Its  present  superintendent,  T. 
McF.  Patton,  Esq.,  has  retained  that  position  seven  years,  and  is 
likely  to  hold  it  many  more.  The  average  attendance  is  about 
three  hundred.  Its  pastors  have  never  been  installed,  in  the  tech- 
nical sense  ot  the  word,  though  they  have  been  "  settled  pastors  " 
in   the    truest  sense  of  the  term ;  there  having  been  but   two  in 


Congregational  Association.  45 


twenty-seven  years— a  fact  which  is  true  of  no  other  Congregational 
church  in  the  state.  Its  ladies  have  a  well-regulated  society,  which 
had  on  hand,  June,  1879,3  little  over  three  hundred  and  eighty  dol- 
lars. In  1869  a  fine  hell  was  secured.  The  church  has  a  history 
which  dates  hack  to  the  time  when  the  capital  of  Oregon  was  a 
straggling  village,  and  its  thoughtful  members  are  looking  forward 
with  hopefulness  to  a  future  that  seems  full  of  promise. 

ALBANY,  OREGON. 

[Mainly  prepared  from  a  paper  furnished  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  J.  W.  Harris.] 

The  church  was  organized  about  May  1,  1853,  at  or  near  Council 

Bluffs,  Iowa,  by   Rev.    Dr.    Wood,  pastor  of  the   Congregational 

church,   Oskaloosa,  Iowa,    with  five   members,  namely,  Rev.   M. 

B.  Starr,  Mrs.  E.  G.  Starr,  Miss  Louisa  Starr,  Mr.  C.  Bane,  and 

Mr.  R.  H.  Robb. 

Rev.   M.    B.   Starr 

Was  chosen  its  first  pastor,  and  Mr.  R.  H.  Robb,  clerk,  and  soon 
after  its  organization  it  came  as  a  colony  to  Oregon,  and  settled 
near  Albany.  In  April,  1854,  these  persons  held  a  meeting  in  the 
law  office  of  Judge  J.  Q.  Thornton  and  declared  themselves  to  be 
the  First  Congregational  church,  of  Albany,  Oregon.  Their  first 
communion  service  was  held  in  the  old  court  house  on  the  first 
Sabbath  of  May  of  the  same  year,  when  Dr.  Dunning,  of  Salem 
officiated  as  deacon.  Miss  E.  A.  Lincoln  was  the  first  person  re- 
ceived into  the  church  on  profession  of  faith.  In  consequence  of 
failure  of  health,  Mr.  Starr  resigned  his  charge  in  1855,  and 

Rev.  T.  Condon 
Was  employed  as  acting  pastor.     He  continued  in  this  position  for 
six  years,  when  in  1861  he  resigned  and  moved  to  The  Dalles.     In 
1S59  a  church  building  was  begun,  which,  however,  was  not  com- 
pleted for  several  years. 

Rev.  D.  B.  Gray 
Was  licensed  hy  the  Congregational  Association  in  1862,  and  began 
preaching  to  this  church  while  at  the  same  time  he  was  teaching  in 
the  public  schools.  The  next  year,  September  20,  he  was  ordained 
by  a  council  called  by  the  church.  In  1865  the  house  of  worship 
was  completed,  Mr.  Gray  having  done  much  of  the  work.  In 
1S66  Mr.  Gray  resigned  on  account  of  the  ill-health  of  his  wife,  and 


96  Congregational  Association. 

Rev.  J.    F.   Damon, 
Who  had  also  been   licensed    by  the    Oregon    Association,  at  once 
took  his  place.     He  was  ordained   here  in  September,  1867,  but  his 
health  failing  he  was  compelled  to  resign  in  1S68.     The  next  year 

Rev.  W.  R.  Butcher, 
Coming  from  the  east,  was  induced  to  begin  his  labors  in  the  state 
at  this  place,  preaching  his  first  sermon  to  the  church,  October 
10th,  1869,  and  he  remained  until  September,  1S73,  the  latter  year 
a  revival  being  reported.  For  eighteen  months  the  church  was 
then  without  a  pastor,  but  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Mr.  Emery  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  a  part  of  the  time,  during  the 
summer  of  1874.  During  all  of  these  years  the  membership 
fluctuated  from  five  to  twenty-four,  and  its  prospects  were  often 
discouraging,  but  the  brethren  toiled  on,  and  held  on,  the  ladies 
rendering  very  efficient  service,  especially  financially.  In  1875  a 
union  arrangement  was  made  between  this  and  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  the  place,  and 

Rev.  H.  W.  Stratton 
Of  the  Presbyterian  church  became  pastor,  the  churches  uniting  in 
worship,  Sabbath-school  and  other  Christian  work,  and  in  the  sup- 
port of  the  pastor,  while  each  church  kept  its  own  organization 
and  name  as  before.  During  the  continuance  of  this  plan  both 
churches  occupied  the  Congregational  building.  A  revival  oc- 
curred the  same  year,  and  the  next  the  constitution  of  church  and 
society,  by-laws,  rules  and  confession  of  faith  in  Roy's  Manual 
were  adopted,  and  various  committees  looking  to  a  systematic 
method  of  church  work  were  appointed — that  is,  on  sick,  strangers, 
benevolence,  and  church  finances.  Mr.  Stratton  continued  in  the 
work  for  between  two  and  three  years,  when  he  resigned  in  order 
to  enter  a  wider  field  of  missionary  work  under  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  the  churches  were  without  a  pastor  for  about  six 
months.     In  the  spring  of  1S7S 

Rev.  W.  B.  Floyd, 
A  Congregational  licentiate  from  the  Chicago  Theological  Sem- 
inary, was  called  to  minister  to  the  churches.  Six  months  after  he 
began  his  labors,  the  Presbyterian  church  withdrew  from  the 
alliance,  when  Mr.  Floyd  was  engaged  for  six  months  longer  to 
supply  the  Congregational  church  alone.  During  his  pastorate  the 
weekly  system  of  offerings  was  adopted,  and  when  the  Presbyter- 


Congregational   Association.  97 

ians  withdrew,  the  church,  which  during  most  of  the  years  of  its 
existence  had  drawn  aid  from  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  he- 
came  independent  of  that  aid,  and  since  then  has  been  carrying  its 
own  financial  burdens.  In  June,  1S79,  the  year  having  expired  for 
which    Mr.  Flovd    was    engaged,  he    returned    East  to    finish    his 

studies,  and 

Rev.  J.   W.   Harris 

Was  called  to  the  pastorate.  During  all  the  years  of  its  existence 
the  church  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  great  assistance  from  Dr. 
Atkinson,  its  very  life  sometimes  having  depended  on  his  min- 
istrations. The  sister  church  at  vSalem,  with  their  pastor,  Rev.  P. 
S.  Knight,  has  also  frequently  helped  them  in  time  of  need.  The 
records  of  the  church  to  within  about  six  or  seven  years  have  been 
lost,  and  the  old  members  either  having  died  or  removed  from  the 
state,  it  has  been  difficult  to  gather  the  items  in  regard  to  its  earlier 
history,  a  work  the  church  has  been  trying  to  perform  for  two  or 
three  years.  During  the  first  twenty-one  years  of  its  existence  the 
church  had  attained  to  a  membership  of  twenty-four,  from  1S53  to 
1874,  but  from  June,  1874,  to  June,  1879,  five  years,  it  doubled, 
having  then  forty-eight  members.  "  In  due  time  ye  shall  reap  if 
ye  faint  not." 

CORVALLIS,  OREGON. 

In  1854  Rev.  M.  B.  Starr  first  reported  a  church  organization  at 
this  place,  and  he  continued  as  its  pastor  as  long  as  it  remained  on 
the  list.  No  report,  however,  was  preserved  previous  to  1857, 
when  it  was  worshipping  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
with  fifty  in  the  congregation,  fifteen  in  the  church,  a  hundred 
dollars  raised  for  the  pastor's  support,  in  addition  to  which  he  re- 
ceived aid  from  the  A.  H.  M.  Society.  The  only  other  reports  are 
for  1S5S,  the  same  as  the  year  previous,  1S59,  and  i860,  when  there 
wrere,  respectively,  twelve  and  sixteen  members.  This  church  with 
the  one  at  Sand  Ridge  received  Home  Missionary  aid  from  1858 
until  1862,  $1,800  in  all.  It  was  continued  on  the  list  until  1863, 
about  the  time  Mr.  Starr  removed  to  California. 


DALLAS,  OREGON. 

In   May,  1854,  Rev.  H.  Lyman,  having  left  Portland,  moved  to 
this  place  where  he  began  to  hold  services.     In  1857  he  reported  a 
8 


98  Congregational  Association. 

church  of  seven  members  and  three  out-stations,  but  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  he  accepted  a  professorship  in  Pacific  University  and  re- 
moved to  Forest  Grove.  We  afterwards  learned  that  several 
persons  in  the  vicinity  were  planning  to  join  the  church  at  the  time 
of  his  leaving,  but  were  prevented  by  his  so  doing;  and  as  several  of 
the  members  soon  removed  or  took  their  letters  of  dismission, 
the  few  remaining  judged  it  best  to  unite  with  other  churches  re- 
presented there,  and  so  the  church  ceased. 

In  connexion  with  the  church  work  at  Dallas  and  its  vicinity,  a 
decided  and  effective  effort  was  made  for  education.  Through  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  Lyman,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  county 
was  called  to  talk  about  starting  an  academy.  Many  of  the  prin- 
cipal citizens  attended  that  meeting,  making  it  lively  and  enthusi- 
astic. The  result  was  a  subscription  of  some  $2,000  for  a  building 
and  good  donations  of  land  for  a  site.  A  board  of  trustees  was 
elected  by  the  donors,  and  the  institution  was  named  the  Lacreole 
Academic  Institute.  It  has  been  permanent  and  generally  pros- 
perous, has  a  fund  of  several  thousand  dollars,  and  has  done  a 
good  work  for  education  in  that  country. 


GRAND  PRAIRIE,  OREGON. 

The  first  mention  made  of  this  church,  six  miles  south  of  Albany, 
is  in  1855,  when  the  association  was  held  there.  It  was  then 
under  the  care  of  Rev.  T.  Condon.  The  next  year  it  was  reported 
in  connection  with  the  church  at  Albany  as  having  twelve  mem- 
bers— the  last  mention  made  of  it. 


SAND  RIDGE,  OREGON. 

This  church  was  first  reported  in  1S57,  with  Rev.  T.  Condon  as 
pastor,  when  it  numbered  twelve  members,  with  a  congregation  of 
fifty  and  a  small  Sabbath  school.  The  next  year  there  were  eleven 
members,  who  were  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  H.  H.  Spald- 
ing. There  were  also  eighty  in  the  congregation,  and  twenty-five 
in  the  Sabbath  school.  Rev.  M.  B.  Starr  was  pastor  in  i860,  and  \U 
like  the  church  at  Corvallis,  was  continued  on  the  list  until  1863 
when  Mr.  Starr  removed.     We  have  no  statistical  report  after  1859 


Congregational  Association.  99 


EOLA,  OREGON. 

As  some  members  of  the  Salem  church  resided  at  this  place, 
Rev.  O.  Dickinson  organized  a  church  here  in  185S,  which  the  next 
year  reported  twelve  members,  with  a  hundred  in  the  congregation. 
In  1S60  and  1S64  it  reported  thirteen  members,  which  is  the  last 
report  made,  although  it  was  represented  at  the  association  in 
1865. 


THE  DALLES,   OREGON. 

[Mainly  prepared  from  a  paper  furnished  by  Rev.  D.  B.  Gray,  present  pastor]. 

In  April,  1S59,  Rev.  VV.  A.  Tenney  began  services  at  this  place, 
and  the  work  progressed  so  favorably  that  by  August  of  the  same 
year  it  was  thought  advisable  to  organize  a  church.  Rev.  W.  A. 
Tenney  and  wife,  Mr.  E.  S.  Joslyn  and  wife,  and  Mr.  E.  S.  Pen- 
held  were  the  originators  of  this  movement.  The  council  was 
composed  of  Rev.  P.  B.  Chamberlain  of  the  church  at  Portland, 
and  Rev.  C.  Eells  of  the  one  at  Forest  Grove,  which  met  August 
13th,  and  after  due  deliberation,  it  was  advised  to  proceed  to  the 
organization.  This  was  fully  done  on  the  following  Sabbath.  Rev. 
P.  B.  Chamberlain  preached  the  sermon  from  Matthew  v:  14,  and 
gave  the  assurance  of  the  fellowship  of  the  churches  ;  and  Rev.  C. 
Eells  conducted  the  opening  exercises,  and  offered  the  prayer  of 
consecration.  Mr.  Penfield  was  chosen  the  first  clerk.  Mr.  Ten- 
ney acted  as    pastor    until    May,  1861,  when    he  resigned  ;  and  the 

same  year 

Rev.   Thomas  Condon 

Took  his  place.  His  was  a  long  pastorate,  lasting  for  about  twelve 
years.  During  the  summer  of  1S63,  plans  were  matured  and  a 
subscription  paper  circulated,  which  resulted  in  securing  a  lot  and 
erecting  a  church  edifice  thirty-two  by  fifty  feet.  Messrs.  E.  S. 
Penfield,  Z.  Donnell,  E.  S.  Joslyn,  W.  B.  Stillwell  and  Rev.  T. 
Condon  were  the  first  trustees,  and  W.  P.  Abrams  the  first  deacon. 
During  the  four  months  of  the  summer  of  1868,  Mr.  Condon  ex- 
changed with  Rev.  D.  B.  Gray  of  Astoria;  and  about  July  or 
August,  1873,  he  resigned.     By  November  of  the  same  year, 

Rev.   W.   R.  Butcher 
Was  chosen  as  pastor,  and  was   laboring  with  the  church.     He  re- 
mained until  July,  1S76,  when    he  returned    east.     From  this  time 


ioo  Congregational  Association. 


until  June,  1S77,  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  but  enjoyed  oc- 
casional visits  from  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.,  and  others,  and 
was  refreshed  by  union  efforts  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.     In  June,  1S77, 

Rev.  J.   W.   Harris 
Became  acting  pastor,  and  continued  for  a  year,  preaching  his  fare- 
well sermon  on  June  14,  187S.     From  this  time  until  October  13th 
of  the  same  year  the  church  was  again  occasionally  supplied  by  Dr. 
Atkinson,  when 

Rev,  D.  B.  Gray 
Became  acting  pastor,  and  still  continues  his  labors.  October  30, 
1879,  it  was  voted  to  become  independent  of  home  missionary 
aid,  attaining  its  majority  at  the  age  of  twenty.  In  the  spring  of 
1S79,  a  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,575.41,  some  of  which 
yet  remains  to  be  paid.  In  September,  the  church  swarmed,  and 
sent  off  eight  members  to  organize  a  church  eight  miles  distant. 

The  Sunday  school  has  been  one  of  the  best  in  the  state,  having 
been  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  under  the  superintendency 
of  W.  P.  Abrams  and  S.  L.  Brooks. 

For  many  years  W.  P.  Abrams  and  E.  S.  Joslyn  served  as 
deacons,  but  after  then  removal,  S.  L.  Brooks  and  E.  P.  Roberts 
have  filled  their  places. 

The  strength  of  the  church  has  varied  from  time  to  time,  owing 
to  the  coming  in  of  new  denominations  and  the  business  fluctuations 
of  the  town,  its  trade  depending  largely  upon  the  mines  of  Eastern 
Oregon,  Washington  and  Idaho.  Twice  the  town  has  suffered 
severely  from  fires  which,  in  reality,  have  seemed  to  bless  it,  the 
church  feeling  that  they  were  intended  "the  dross  to  consume  and 
the  gold  to  refine."  During  these  times  of  trial,  when  oftentimes 
there  were  but  few  male  members,  there  has  been  a  noble  band 
of  women  who  have  worked  with  sincerity  and  earnestness  for  the 
good  of  the  church. 

About  one  hundred  and  seventy  persons  have  united  with  the 
church  by  letter  and  profession,  of  whom  about  eighty  have  been 
dismissed  to  other  churches,  leaving  a  present  membership  of  about 
eighty,  June  15,  1880. 


Congregational  Association.  ioi 

ASTORIA,  OREGON. 

[Prepared  mainly  from  a  sketch  written  by  Rev.  F.  Crang]. 

In  1858,  Rev.  W.  A.  Tenney  held  services  regularly  twice  each 
Sabbath;  but  left  the  next  year,  without  organizing  any  church. 
Not  much  more  was  done  until  1865,  when 

Rev.  D.  B.  Gray, 
Seeking  a  climate  favorable  for  his  health,  went  to  the  same  place, 
and  held  stated  religious  worship,  first  in  the  Masonic  hall,  and 
afterwards  in  the  base  of  the  old  custom  house.  It  was  October 
16,  1865,  that  a  meeting  was  held  in  order  to  organize,  and  then 
simply  to  form  a  Congregational  society.  Hon.  W.  L.  Adams 
was  chairman  of  this  meeting.  A  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  adopted,  and  three  days  later  the  first  permanent  officers  were 
chosen:  Rev.  D.  B.  Gray,  president  ;  S.  L.  Gillingham,  secretary  ; 
and  Chailes  Stevens,  treasurer.  Mr.  Gray  was  called  to  act  as 
pastor.  Application  was  made  to  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society  to  aid  in  his  support,  which  was  granted  ;  and  the  same 
has  been  given  to  other  Congregational  ministers  who  have  held 
services  there. 

On  April  12,  1866,  a  preliminary  meeting  was  held  to  consider 
the  practicability  of  organizing  a  church  ;  and  it  being  considered 
advisable,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  rules,  a  confession 
of  faith  and  a  covenant.  This  committee  reported  on  the  28th  of 
April,  when  Charles  Stevens  was  chosen  deacon,  and  Hon.  W.  H. 
Gray,  clerk  ;  and  on  the  Sabbath,  the  next  day,  the  organization 
was  fully  perfected,  with  eighteen  members,  seven  males  and  eleven 
females,  a  large  proportion  of  whom  had  been  gathered  from  the 
world. 

The  next  year  the  first  steps  were  taken  towards  the  erection  of 
a  building.  A  lot  was  bought,  the  society  was  incorporated,  and 
the  work  went  on  ;  but  it  was  not  until  about  September,  1S69, 
that  the  church  was  ready  for  use.  In  October  or  November,  1869, 
Mr.  Gray  resigned  in  favor  of 

Rev.  W.  J.  Clark, 
Who   labored    for  six    months,  and    then    resigned    because    of  ill 
health.     In  November,  1870,  a  call  was  extended  to 

Rev.  W.  A.  Tenney 
To  become    their   pastor,  which  was  accepted  on  condition  of  in- 


io2  Congregational  Association. 

stallation.     This  was  agreed  to,  and  on  June   iS,  1871,  he  was  for- 
mally installed. 

In  September,  1871,  a  report  was  made  which  showed  that,  with 
the  aid  of  the  Congregational  Union,  the  debt  on  the  church  of 
$1,700  had  been  paid.  In  1S68,  the  church  had  reported  an  outlay 
on  this  building  of  about  $4,000,  of  which  about  $3,000  had  been 
paid,  and  the  next  year  that  the  church  had  been  plastered  and  a 
bell  obtained.  After  about  four  years  of  labor,  Mr.  Tenney  re- 
signed, and  the  connection  was  fully  dissolved  by  a  council,  March 
24,  1875.      In  the  May  following,  a  call  was  extended  to 

Rev.  F.  Grang 
Of  Cahoka,  Missouri.  This  was  accepted,  and  he  arrived  in  Sep- 
tember. It  not  being  on  record  that  the  church  had  ever  been 
dedicated,  a  dedicatory  service  was  held  January  30,  1S76.  The 
society  then  held  the  property,  but  any  one,  on  the  payment  of  any 
sum  of  money  and  signing  the  constitution,  could  become  a  mem- 
ber ;  therefoie  it  was  plain  that  outsiders  and  wicked  men  could 
easily  gain  control  of  the  building  and  shut  out  the  church.  Hence, 
mainly  through  the  efforts  of  the  pastor,  the  constitution  of  the 
societv  was  amended  so  as  to  exclude  in  the  future  all  who  would 
not  assent  to  the  articles  of  faith.  The  church  was  incorporated, 
and  the  society  ordered  its  trustees  to  deed  all  its  property  to  the 
church,  which  was  done.  Dr.  Crang  labored  on  until  the  summer 
of  187S,  when,  having  resigned, 

Rev.  J.  T.  Wolfe, 
Pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  the  place,  was  invited 
to  act  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  in  connection  with 
his  labors  in  his  own  church,  and  to  preach  in  the  Congregational 
edifice.  This  arrangement  lasted  one  year — until  August,  1879 — 
when  Mr.  Wolfe  was  sent  elsewhere  by  his  conference.  The 
church  is  now  without  a  pastor,  except  as 

Rev.  G.   H.  Atkinson,  D.D., 
Visits  it  ;  and  he  has  often  dene  so  in  past  years,  when  it  has  been 
without  a  pastor. 

Forty-seven  members  have  been  received  into  the  church  by 
letter,  and  fourteen  by  profession  ;  total,  sixty-one.  Of  these, 
thirty-five  have  been  dismissed  by  letter,  four  by  death,  and  one  by 
excommunication,  leaving  twenty-one  now  on  the  list. 


Congregational  Association.  103 


HILLSBORO,   OREGON. 

In  1842  a  Congregational  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  S. 
Griffin,  about  two  miles  north-east  of  the  place,  and  before  any 
one  knew  where  the  town  would  be.  It  has,  however,  never  been 
connected  with  the  association,  nor  has  it  held  regular  services  for 
many  years,  for  when  Hillsboro  became  a  town  this  church  was 
too  far  away. 

The  first  labor  at  the  town  was  by  Rev.  C.  Eells,  about  1855. 
He  lived  about  a  mile  from  the  place,  and  preached  there  monthly 
and  held  a  Sabbath  school  a  good  share  of  the  time  until  1857, 
when  he  removed  away,  and  but  little  more  was  done  for  several 
years  except  occasional  preaching  by  Revs.  E.  Walker  and  S.  H. 
Marsh.  Two  families,  however,  who  had  been  connected  with  the 
church  at  Forest  Grove,  moved  into  the  neighborhood  and  a  few 
others  were  similar  ideas,  so  that  in  the  spring  of  1866  a  church 
was  organized  by  council  of  seven  members,  of  which  Rev.  E. 
Walker  became  pastor,  preaching  there  about  once  a  month.  This 
arrangement  continued  for  about  two  years,  and  with  some  help 
from  Dr.  Marsh  as  much  longer,  when  it  was  reported  vacant,  but 
since  1875  Dr.  Atkinson  has  been  able  to  visit  it  occasionally,  hold 
communion  services,  look  after  its  interests  and  encourage  its  mem- 
bers. It  has,  however,  never  had  any  additions,  and  death  and  re- 
movals have  reduced  the  number  to  four,  who  have  been  constantly 
known  as  efficient  workers  in  the  Union  Sabbath  schools,  prayer- 
meetings,  church  services,  benevolence,  temperance,  and  all  good 
work,  and  who  "  hold  the  fort." 


SEATTLE,   W.   T. 

This  church  was  organized  January  16,  1870,  through  the  efforts 

of 

Rev.  J.   F.  Damon, 

Who  had  been  laboring  here  for  some  time,  and  who  continued  as 
its  pastor  until  1873.  His  health,  however,  was  unequal  to  the 
labor,  hence  that  year 

Rev.  N.  McLeod 
Who  came  from   Salt  Lake  City,  became  its  pastor,  and  remained 
so  for  a  year,  when  he  went  east.     About  this  time  their    house  of 


104  Congregational  Association. 


worship  was    completed,  with,  however,  a    heavy    debt    of  $1,600 

left. 

Rev.  J.   Hall 

Began  labors  in  1875,  coming  from  the  east,  but  he  remained  only 

nine  months,  when   he  returned.     While   he  was  there  a  library  of 

325  volumes  was  obtained,  a  communion  service  worth  $60  secured, 

and  the  debt,  which  had  increased  to  about  $1,800,  was  paid. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Ellis 
Entered  this  pastorate  July,  1876.  In  the  spring  1877  the  church 
was  carpeted  and  repaired,  at  an  expense  of  $600.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  the  church  swarmed,  sending  off  eight  members  to 
aid  in  organizing  the  church  at  White  river.  The  next  winter  a 
revival  occurred,  and  a  number  were  added  to  the  church.  On 
January  1st,  187S,  the  church,  which  had  heretofore  been  aided  by 
the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  declared  its  independence, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  going  alone.  In  the  first  months  of 
1880,  a  very  interesting  revival  occurred — stdl  and  quiet,  but  deep 
— of  which  God  seemed  to  be  the  more  direct  author  than  is  often 
the  case — that  is,  less  human  means  were  used  than  is  common  in 
such  cases;  nearly  forty  persons  were  added  to  the  membership,  so 
that  it  is  now  the  largest  church  in  the  territory.  One  of  the  mem- 
bers, Rev.  N.  W.  Lane,  M.D.,  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry  at  Port  Gamble  in  March,  1880. 


EAST   PORTLAND,  OREGON. 

This  church  is  the  result  of  missionary  work  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational church  of  Portland  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  H. 
Atkinson,  D.D.,  and  was  organized  May  14,  1871,  in  the  school 
house  in  District  No.  21,  with  eight  members,  six  of  whom  came 
from  the  First  church. 

Rev.  W.  R.  Joyslin 
Was  its  first  pastor,  and  it  was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of 
Oregon,  June  5,  1871,  Messrs.  J.  H.  Mack,  J.  H.  McMillen,  and  D. 
K.  Abrams  being  the  incorporators  and  trustees.  Mr.  Ben  Hol- 
laday  having  donated  to  the  church  two  lots  worth  twelve  hundred 
dollars,  in  July  a  building  was  begun  and  a  brick  basement  erected, 
with  a  plan  for  an  audience  room  above.  This  was  done  at  an  ex- 
pense of  a  little  over  fourteen  hundred  dollars.     At  that  time  it  was 


Congregational  Association.  105 


thought  that  East  Portland  would  grow  quite  rapidly,  but  a  reaction 
came  the  next  }'ear,  Mr.  Joyslin  became  secretary  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  of  Portland,  spending  but  little  time 
with  the  church.     In  1873  he  removed  from  the  state  and 

Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D., 
general  missionary  for  the  state  became  its  pastor.  Previous  to 
1S76  but  little  more,  however,  was  done,  except  that  the  prayer- 
meetings  were  held  a  part  of  the  time,  and  pastoral  visits  made,  as 
most  of  the  members  had  removed  from  town.  That  year  the 
Sabbath  school  was  reorganized  under  Deacon  J.  P.  Sheffield, 
which  has  been  held  most  of  the  time  since.  In  1S78  arrangements 
were  made  to  complete  the  building,  but  it  was  found  that  three 
thousand  dollars  would  be  needed  for  this  purpose,  which  it  was 
thought  impossible  to  obtain.  C.  B.  Talbot,  Esq.,  architect,  sug- 
gested the  plan  of  raising  and  covering  the  basement  walls  for  an 
audience  room,  and  attended  to  contracts  and  details  free  of  cost. 
Subscriptions  were  obtained,  in  which  the  First  church  aided  freely, 
and  it  was  finished  with  a  gothic  roof,  bell  tower  and  spire,  at  an 
additional  cost  of  seventeen  hundred  and  seventy-four  dollars  and 
sixteen  cents.  It  is  of  brick,  forty  by  fifty- four  feet.  During  1876- 
1879  preaching  services  were  held  once  or  twice  a  month  in  the 
town  or  vicinity.  The  fact  that  all  of  the  members  were  out  of 
town  a  good  share  of  the  time  except  two  ladies,  shows  why  the 
work  was  not  more  rapid. 

Rev.  E.  P.  Baker 
Was  secured  in  1879  and  his  first  sermon  was  the  dedication  sermon 
on  Forefather's  day,  Dec.  23d  of  that  year,  from  Heb.  12:  18-24, 
while  Dr.  Atkinson  offered  the  dedicatory  prayer.  At  the  close  of 
that  day  the  church  was  in  debt  but  one  hundred  dollars,  had  a 
membership  of  fifteen  and  a  Sabbath  school  of  fifty. 


BELLINGHAM  BAY,  W.  T. 

[Mainly  prepared  from  papers  furnished  by  its  pastor]. 
Rev.  P.  Harrison, 
In  the  year  1872,  came   from    California  to   Bellingham    Bay.     On 
September  8th,  he  began   preaching  there,  and  on  the  29th  of  the 
same  month  organized  a  church  with  seven  members,  all  of  whom 
had  been  members  elsewhere,  but  being  without  letters,  they  united 


io6  Congregational    Association. 


on  profession  of  faith.  The  three  families  with  which  they  were 
connected  had  been  members  of  Presbyterian,  Methodist  and  Con- 
gregational churches  ;  hence,  they  agreed  to  unite  in  Christian  fel- 
lowship on  the  Bible  as  their  creed,  leaving  the  doctrines  as  they 
were  there.  These  were  not  transcribed  to  paper,  except  that  a 
simple  reference  was  made  to  some  of  them,  as  plain,  and  not  sub- 
ject to  controversy,  in  the  fly-leaf  of  their  Bibles.  This  plan,  being 
rather  different  from  that  of  most  churches,  is  here  given : 

Article  i.  Unity  of  God.  (Isa.  xliv:  8;  Deut.  v:  6,  7;  1  Cor. 
viii :  6.) 

Art.  2.     Trinity  in  unity.     (1  John  v:  7.) 

Art.  3.  Divinity  and  humanity  of  Christ.  (John  i:  1,  14; 
Lukei:  26,  30-33,  35,  37.) 

Art.  4.  Christ  the  Savior  of  all  believers.  (1  John  v:  1-7; 
Mark  xvi:  16;  John  v:  24,  and  xiv:  12.) 

Art.  5.  Christ  draws  all  men  and  saves  all  who  yield  to  his 
drawing.  (John  vi:  44,  and  xii:32;Luke  VK47;  Rev.  xxii :  17; 
Acts  vii:  51;  Rev.  lii:  20.) 

Art.  6.  Regeneration  the  initiatory  rite  into  the  Church  of 
Christ  and  the  kingdom  of  God.     (John  iii :  3.) 

Art.  7.  The  Holy  Ghost  is  the  teacher  of  the  things  of  God 
and  sanctifier  of  the  heart.  (John  xiv:  26;  2  Thess.  ii:  13;  1  Cor. 
vi:  11.) 

Art.  8.     The  resurrection  of  the  dead.     (1  Cor.  xv:  21.) 

Art.  9.  General  judgment.  (Dan.  vii:  9;  Matt,  vii:  19,  23; 
Heb.  vi:  2;  Jude.  vi;  Rom.  xiv:  10.) 

Rules  for  the  government  of  their  faith  and  practice  were  also 
adopted  by  a  similar  mode,  with  references — namely,  respecting 
offenses  between  believers,  public  scandal,  ordinances,  receiving 
members,  giving,  and  the  requirements  of  Christ. 

The  little  church  struggled  on  for  a  year  and  a  half  without  an 
addition,  when  the  husband  of  one  of  the  members  united  on  pro- 
fession of  faith.  For  a  time  the  question  was  often  discussed  among 
the  members  whether  it  was  solid  rock  on  which  the  seed  was  cast, 
or  whether  some  seeds  might  foil  into  good  soil.  Sabbath-break- 
ing, drunkenness,  squaw  dances,  fighting,  cutting,  gambling  and 
shooting  seemed  to  be  the  popular  amusements  ot  the  day  among 
those  who  were  not  Christians;  while  the  members  of  the  church 
were  so  poor  that  they  could  do  but  very  little  for  the  support  of 
their  pastor,  who,  like  Paul,  could  say,  "  These  hands  have  minis- 
tered to  my  necessities." 

The  extremity  of  the  church  proved  God's  opportunity,  for  when 


Congregational  Association.  107 


they  most  needed  help  the  Lord  sent  them  Rev.  Dr.  Atkinson,  who 
encouraged  them  to  ask  help  from  the  Home  Missionary  Society 
in  the  early  part  of  1875,  and  from  that  time  the  church  prospered. 
It  experienced  two  revivals,  grew  to  a  membership  of  twenty-five 
workers,  occupied  a  neat  chapel,  and  fitted  up  a  building  which  had 
heen  used  for  a  saloon,  with  a  new  organ  and  choir.  Of  the 
eighteen  who  joined  after  the  organization,  six  united  by  letter,  and 
the  rest  on  profession  of  faith.  The  amusements  heretofore  men- 
tioned mostly  ceased ;  the  running  of  coal  trains,  blacksmith  shops 
and  unnecessary  business  on  the  Sabbath  were  suspended;  the 
superintendent  of  the  local  mine  and  most  of  the  people  were  found 
in  the  house  of  God.  There  was  one  Bible  class  in  English  and 
one  in  Welsh,  and  the  community  was  outwardly  reformed.  Sab- 
bath-schools were  also  planted  at  Guemes  Island,  Ferndale,  the 
Smith  neighborhood  and  Fidalgo. 

The  town,  however,  was  built  on  the  coal  mines  of  the  place.  In 
the  spring  of  1878  these  failed,  and  in  less  than  two  weeks  after 
the  order  was  given  for  the  miners  to  bring  up  their  tools,  the 
church  was  dispersed  to  the  four  vvinds.  Five  of  the  members  had 
been  cut  off;  and  the  rest,  taking  their  letters  of  dismissal,  said  to 
each  other:  "  Good-bye;  let  us  meet  in  heaven."  This  was  in 
April,  1878. 


ATAHNUM,  W.  T. 


A  few  Christian  families  having  moved  into  this  region  previous 
to  187 1,  they  desired  some  kind  of  Sabbath  services  for  themselves. 
As  there  was  no  clergyman  in  the  region,  Deacon  E.  S.  Tanner 
organized  that  year  a  Sahbath  school.  After  a  time,  a  school- 
house  was  built.  Most  of  the  Sabbaths  since,  when  he  has  been 
in  the  region,  Deacon  Tanner  has  taken  his  family  and  organ  and 
superintended  the  Sabbath  school.  In  1873,  nine  persons,  without 
council  or  minister — as  the  nearest  Congregational  church  and  cler- 
gyman were  eighty  miles  distant — banded  together  in  faith  and 
covenant  as  a  church.  Shortly  afterwards,  they  elected  a  deacon 
(E.  S.  Tanner);  and,  as  he  said,  "hardly  knowing  whether  we  had 
a  right  to,"  received  two  more  members  into  their  fellowship.  A 
few  months  afterwards,  in  June  of  the  same  year,  they  sent  then- 
delegates  to  the  Oregon  Association,  which  met  at  The  Dalles,  their 


io8  Congregational  Association. 

nearest  neighboring  church,  asking  that  a  council  be  held  to  extend 
to  them  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  which  was  done.  From  that 
time  until  1S79,  they  seldom  had  any  Congregational  preacher. 
Rev.  C.  Eells  visited  them  a  few  times,  but  some  years  no  Congre- 
gational minister  even  looked  in  on  them,  and  but  few  of  any  de- 
nomination. Still  the  organization  and  Sabbath  school  were  sus- 
tained. In  1879,  Rev.  Dr.  Atkinson  visited  them,  when  the  church 
colonized,  four  of  their  members  absent  being  dismissed  in  forming 
the  church  at  Yakima  City;  but  the  next  day  their  number  was 
more  than  made  good  by  the  reception  of  five  more.  About  the 
same  time,  in  connection  with  the  sister  church,  it  secured  the  ser- 
vices ©f 

Rev.  William  Capps 

As  pastor,  whose  ministrations  they  now  enjoy.  It  now  numbers 
eleven  members,  and  plans  to  build  a  church.  Never  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Oregon  and  Washington  Association,  and  probably 
never  in  any  place,  has  a  church  been  organized  and  sustained 
under  such  lonely  circumstances — neither  minister  or  church  to  aid 
in  the  organization,  and  the  council,  when  called,  was  months  after- 
wards and  eighty  miles  distant;  with  an  average  of  a  Congrega- 
tional sermon  less  than  once  a  year,  and  swarming  before  they  had 
a  pastor.     Such  faith  deserves  success  in  the  future. 

OLYMPIA.  W.  T. 

[Prepared  mainly  from  papers  furnished  by  Mrs.  H.  H.  Steele,  clerk  of  the 
church.] 

This  church  was  organized  April  27,  1873,  by  a  council  com- 
posed of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the  churches  at  Portland  and 
The  Dalles,  Oregon,  and  Seattle,  W.  T.  It  was  composed  of  fifteen 
members,  and  the  Presbyterian  church  of  the  place  was  courteously 
offered  for  the  public  services  in  connection  with  the  organization. 
The  church  records,  contain  the  following  account  of  the  prelim- 
inary steps: 

Deacon  Alfred  Walker,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  while  here  two 
years  ago,  proposed  to  raise  a  fund  to  lay  the  foundations  of  a  Con- 
gregational church  in  Olympia.  Soon  after  his  return  east,  the  old 
Catholic  property  on  Main  street  was  offered  for  sale,  and  Deacon 
Walker  was  appealed  to  to  purchase  it.  He  represented  the  matter 
to  the   church  of  which    he  was  a  member,  and  obtained    liberal 


Congregational    Association.  109 


contributions  to  the  American  Congregational  Union  for  the 
object,  and  the  property  was  purchased  by  that  society,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $750. 

The  Congregational  Union  then  appealed  to  the  Congregation- 
alists  of  Olympia  to  organize  themselves  into  a  church,  so  as  to 
hold  and  repair  the  property,  else  the  building  would  be  sold  and 
the  proceeds  used  for  the  cause  elsewhere.  Hence,  measures  were 
taken  in  February,  1873,  for  this  purpose,  and  the  organization 
was  fully  consummated  in  April. 

The  building  had,  however,  been  used  as  a  carpenter-shop,  and 
was  sadly  out  of  repair — so  much  so  that  a  year  and  a  half  was  re- 
quired to  put  it  in  good  condition.  In  the  meantime,  the  little 
band  hired  a  room  under  the  Masonic  hall,  and 

Rev.  C.  A.  Huntington, 
One  of  the  members,  was  asked  to  preach.  This  he  cheerfully 
did,  refusing  all  pay  until  the  end  of  the  year,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed Indian  agent  at  Neah  Bay.  Collections  were  regularly 
taken  on  the  Sabbath,  which  were  used  to  repair  the  building.  For 
nearly  two  and  a  half  years  the  church  was  without  a  pastor;  but 
Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson  D.  D.,  Rev.  C.  Eells  and  others  filled  the 
pulpit  about  one-third  of  the  time,  and  sermons  were  read  by  Mr. 
G.  F.  Boynton  and  other  lay  members  on  the  remaining  Sabbaths. 
The  prayer- meeting  and  Sabbath  school  were  also  sustained.  In 
the  meantime,  the  church  building  was  finished,  and  dedicated  Sep- 
tember 27,  1874.  Mr.  Huntington  preached  the  sermon,  and  Dr. 
Atkinson  offered  the  dedicatory  prayer.  The  cost  of  the  building 
at  that  time  was  $1,997,  in  addition  to  what  had  been  done  by 
Deacon  Walker  in  the  original  purchase. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Skinner 
Was  obtained  as  pastor  in  May,  1876,  coming  from  Kansas.  He 
came  engaged  for  six  months,  was  very  acceptable,  and  it  was 
hoped  he  would  remain  ;  but  at  the  end  of  the  time  he  returned 
to  his  family.  For  a  year  and  a  half  the  church  was  again  without 
a  resident  shepherd,  but 

Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D., 
Was    engaged    during   most    of  that    time  to  act    as  pastor,  and  to 
supply  the  pulpit  about  one-fourth  of  the  Sabbaths.     Lay  services 
during  most  of  the  remaining  Sabbaths  were  held,  the  prayer-meet- 
ing and  Sabbath  school  sustained,  and  the  church  newly  seated,  at 


no  Congregational  Association. 


an  expense  of  about  $200 — one-half  of  it  raised  by  the  young- 
ladies  of  the  place,  and  the  other  half  a  donation  from  the  Honor- 
able Frederick  Billings,  of  Vermont. 

Rev.   D.  Thomas 
Came  in  June,  1878,  and  remained  a  year.     Rev.  J.  A.  Banfield,  of 
Tacoma,  then  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a  few  Sabbaths,  when 

Rev.  G.  A.   Huntington 
Returned  to  his  home  from   Vermont,  and  since  August,  1879,  has 
been  serving  as  pastor. 

Thus,  during  the  period  of  its  existence — nearly  seven  years — 
the  church  has  had  resident  pastors  but  little  more  than  two  and  a 
half  years;  but  the  membership,  though  small,  have  worked  ear- 
nestly, the  women  of  the  church  doing  fully  their  share.  The 
whole  number  of  members  has  been  thirty-five,  all  but  three  of 
whom  have  been  received  by  letter.  Of  these,  three  have  been 
dropped,  ten  dismissed  by  letter,  and  twenty-two  remain. 

The  whole  amount  of  money  raised  for  all  purposes  has  been 
about  $4,825,  of  which  $81.95  have  been  for  the  cause  of  benevo- 
lence— namely,  $7.25  for  the  Bible  Society,  $13.60  for  the  Congre- 
gational Union,  and  $61.10  for  the  Home  Missionary  Society.  They 
have  no  debt,  it  being  a  settled  principle  with  them  to  incur  no 
expense  until  they  have  the  means  to  meet  it.  They  have  received 
from  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  $825. 


BOISE  CITY,   IDAHO. 

In  October,  1S71,  Rev.  M.  Eells  began  work  at  this  place,  using 
and  repairing  the  Baptist  church,  which  was  unoccupied,  and  in 
May,  1873,  organized  a  church  of  ten  members,  to  whom  three  were 
subsequently  added.  The  report  of  1874  gives  an  average  con- 
gregation of  sixty,  one  hundred  and  ten  in  the  Sabbath  school, 
and  $1,282.50  raised  for  all  purposes.  But  in  June,  1874,  Mr.  Eells 
thought  it  wise  to  leave,  owing  to  the  removal  of  some  of  the  mem- 
bers, decrease  in  the  population  of  the  place,  and  an  increase  of  the 
churches — so  the  members  at  that  time  took  letters  to  any  church 
they  might  desire  to  join. 

NEW  TACOMA,  W.   T. 

About  as  soon  as  the  Northern  Pacific  R.  R.  Co.  determined  to 
build  a  town  at  this  place  as  the  terminus  of  their  railroad, 


Congregational  Association.  iii 

Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D., 
Began  to  hold  monthly  services  there,  alternating  with  ministers  of 
other  denominations,  an  appointment  he  kept  up  nearly  five  years, 
in  person  or  by  proxy.  A  large  canvas  tent  was  obtained  through 
the  efforts  of  Dr.  Atkinson,  where  services  were  held  during  the 
summer  of  1S74.  In  May,  1874,  a  union  Sabbath  school  was  or- 
ganized in  this  tent,  and  on  June  17th  of  the  same  year  the  Con- 
gregational church  was  organized  with  five  members,  all  but  one  of 
whom  joined  by  letter.  This  was  done  in  a  tent,  by  a  council,  of 
which  Rev.  W.  A.  Tenney  was  moderator,  and  Rev.  W.  R. 
Butcher,  scribe;  and  the  fellowship  of  the  churches  was  tendered 
through  the  moderator.  After  the  cold  weather  began,  Mr.  S.  R. 
Smith  gave  the  use  of  his  hall  for  a  few  months,  after  which,  for 
about  three  years,  Mr.  W.  H.  Fife  gave  the  use  of  two  different 
buildings  for  Sabbath  services,  until  the  completion  of  the  Method- 
ist church,  which,  since  that  time,  has  been  used  by  the  several  de- 
nominations. 

Not  long  after  the  organization  of  the  church  the  business  pros- 
pects of  the  place  began  to  diminish.  People  moved  away,  no  ad- 
ditions were  made  to  the  church  for  three  years,  and  at  one  time  it 
was  reduced  to  one  resident  member.  Still  Dr.  Atkinson  continued 
his  regular  services,  the  union  Sabbath  school  was  kept  up,  and 
hope  held  on.  It  was  not  until  the  fall  of  1877  that  business  began 
to  revive,  when  several  Congregational  families  moved  into  the  place, 
and  in  a  year  sixteen  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  In  the  fall 
of  1878  the  church  colonized,  dismissing  four  of  its  members  to 
form  the  church  at  Old  Tacoma.  Dr.  Atkinson  continued  as  pastor 
until  the  spring  of  1879,  when 

Rev.  J.  A.  Banfleld 
Moved,  by  invitation,  to  the  place,  and  became  the  permanent 
pastor,  having  for  out-stations  Wilkeson,  Vashon  Island  and  other 
places.  In  1877  church  lots  were  secured  on  certain  conditions,  and 
the  next  year  the  lots  were  cleared.  Since  Mr.  Banfield  assumed 
the  pastorate  three  more  have  been  added  to  the  membership. 


SKOKOMISH,  W.  T. 

This  church  is  on  an  Indian  reservation,  and  the  only  one  so  located 
in  the  bounds  of  the  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  Association. 


ii2  Congregational  Association. 

The  Indians  consist  of  two  tribes — the  Twanas,  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  in  number,  most  of  whom  live  on  the  reservation,  and  the 
Clallams,  numbering  about  five  hundred  and  fifty — most  of  whom 
are  scattered  in  villages  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles 
from  the  reservation. 

When  President  Grant  adopted  what  is  known  as  the  Peace 
policy  among  the  Indians,  this  agency  was  assigned  to  the  Ameri- 
can Missionary  Association,  whoj  in  187 1,  sent  Mr.  Edwin  Eells  to 
this  place  as  their  agent,  where  he  has  since  remained. 

Previous  to  this  but  little  had  ever  been  done  for  the  religious  in- 
structions of  the  Indians.  At  different  times  Rev.  W".  C.  Chattin, 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  Mr.  D.  B.  Ward,  of  the 
Protestant  Methodist  church,  had  taught  the  school,  and  each  had 
endeavored  to  give  some  Christian  instruction  in  the  Sabbath- 
school,  but  had  found  it  hard  work;  for  Sabbath-breaking,  house- 
building, trafficking  and  gambling,  by  the  whites  and  the  Indians, 
were  allowed  in  sight  and  hearing  of  the  place  where  services  were 
held.  "If  it  is  wrong  to  break  the  Sabbath,  why  does  the  agent 
do  so  ?"  "  If  it  is  wrong  to  play  cards  and  gamble,  why  do  the 
white  employes  do  so  ?"  and  similar  questions  were  asked  by  the 
Indian  children  or  their  Christian  teachers.  But  in  1871  this  was 
changed,  a  Sabbath  school  and  prayer-meeting  were  permanently 
established,  and  most  of  the  Indians  during  the  summer  were 
present  at  one  time  or  another.  In  1872  Rev.  J.  Castro,  M.D.,  was 
engaged  as  government  physician,  and  Rev.  C.  Eells,  father  of  the 
agent,  went  to  live  with  his  son,  and  both  preached  during  the 
winter  at  the  agency  and  in  the  camps  of  the  Indians.  During  the 
year  1874  a  council  house  was  built  at  a  money  cost  to  the  govern- 
ment of  five  hundred  dollars — besides  the  work  which  was  done  by 
the  government  carpenter — which  has  since  been  used  as  a  church. 
And  during  that  spring  it  was  thought  best  to  organize  a  church, 
for  although  at  first  it  would  be  composed  mostly  of  the  whites 
connected  with  the  agency,  yet  it  was  hoped  that  it  would  have  a 
salutary  influence  on  the  Indians.  This  was  done  June  23d,  1874, 
with  eleven  members,  nine  ®f  whom  joined  by  letter  and  two  on 
profession  of  faith,  one  of  the  latter  being  an  Indian.  The  sermon 
was  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.,  prayer  of  consecration  by 
Rev.  E.  Walker,  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Bradford, 
of  Montclair,  New  Jersey,   who   was    temporarily    supplying   the 


Congregational  Association.  113 

First    church,    of  Portland,    having    exchanged    with    Rev.  J.   D. 
Eaton,  and  the  charge  to  the  church  by  Rev.  M.  Eells. 

Rev.  C.  Eells 
Was  chosen  pastor.  Considering  himself  too  old  to  learn  a  new- 
Indian  language,  most  of  the  work  fell  on  Rev.  M.  Eells,  who  had 
come  on  a  visit,  but  who  received  an  appointment  by  the  American 
Missionary  Association  as  missionary  in  1S75.  The  pastor,  absent 
much  of  the  time  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  territory,  resigned  in 
1S76,  when  Rev.  M.  Eells  was  chosen  pastor.  Slowly  different 
individuals  have  come  into  the  church — nine  whites  by  letter,  and 
ten  whites  and  seventeen  Indians  on  profession.  Of  all  these,  two 
have  died,  one  has  been  excommunicated,  and  seven  dismissed  by 
letter,  leaving  thirty-six  on  the  list,  July  first. 

The  Sabbath-school,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  agent, 
has  been  kept  up  steadily,  and  an  interesting  feature  of  the  work 
has  been  the  committing  to  memory  of  the  verses  in  the  lesson. 
Some  Sabbaths  twenty  scholars  have  learned  the  six  verses  in  the 
lesson  and  recited  them  without  a  mistake,  and  some  have  done  so 
for  a  whole  year. 

In  1873  the  Clallam  Indians  about  Dungeness,  ninety  miles  from 
the  agency,  were  much  addicted  to  drunkenness,  so  much  so 
that  the  white  residents  were  almost  ready  to  petition  to  have  them 
removed  to  the  reservation,  a  punishment  they  dreaded  nearly  as 
much  as  any  other  which  could  be  inflicted  on  them.  The  threat 
of  doing  this  had  such  an  influence  that  about  fifteen  of 
them  combined,  bought  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land,  mostly 
reformed  in  regard  to  drunkenness,  and  since  that  time  have  rapidly 
advanced  in  civilization.  In  1875,  though  without  a  resident 
teacher,  they  began  holding  some  kind  of  religious  services  on  the 
Sabbath,  encouraged  by  their  teachers,  which  have  been  kept  up 
steadily  since  that  time.  By  their  visits  to  the  agency,  and  those 
of  their  agent  and  missionary  to  them,  they  learned  so  much  about 
the  need  and  value  of  such  services  that  in  1878  they  built  a  small 
church,  mostly  with  their  own  means,  sixteen  by  twenty-four  feet, 
which  was  dedicated  May  12th,  1878.  It  was  the  first,  and  is  the 
only  church,  in  the  county,  although  it  has  been  settled  twenty-six 
years  by  whites,  and  contains  a  population  of  four  or  five  hundred. 
At  that  time  none  of  the  Indians  were  professing  Christians,  but 
four  have  since  been  received  into  the  church.  About  the  same 
9 


ii4  Congregational  Association. 

time,  by  special  appropriation  of  the  government,  a  school-teacher 
was  furnished  them  at  their  request,  and  the  school  has  been  steadily 
kept  up  to  the  present  time.  They  also  sustain  a  weekly  prayer- 
meeting,  the  only  one  in  the  county. 

During  the  six  years  of  its  existence  the  church  has  raised  $i,- 
754.05  for  home  work,  and  $2,361.95  for  benevolence. 


SEMIAHMOO,  W.  T. 

This  church,  the  most  northern  Congregational  church  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  but  a  few  miles  south  of  the  British  line,  was 
organized  in  1875,  by 

Rev.  W.  M.  Stewart, 
With  twelve  members,  as  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 
Father  Stewart,  who  has  always  been  its  pastor,  is  the  oldest  Con- 
gregational minister  in  Oregon  or  Washington,  being  eighty-six 
years  of  age  on  April  24,  1880.  Owing  to  its  long  distance  from 
any  other  church  of  the  same  denomination,  an  earnest  request 
was  sent  to  Dr.  Atkinson  to  visit  them  and  welcome  them  to  our 
body.  He  did  so  in  March,  1876,  when  the  church  voted  (12  to 
3)  to  adopt  the  Congregational  mode  of  government  and  the 
articles  of  faith  in  Roy's  Manual,  whereupon  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship  was  given  them  by  Dr.  Atkinson,  who  had  the  power 
to  act  in  behalf  of  the  churches  of  Portland,  Oregon  City  and 
Seattle. 

By  the  next  year  the  church  reported  that  it  was  working  suc- 
cessfully, everybody  attended  church,  the  saloon  formerly  there 
had  been  closed,  the  few  members  who  had  danced  had  ceased  the 
practice,  and  a  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  thirty  mem- 
bers, and  a  temperance  society  of  sixty  members,  had  been 
organized  and  well  sustained.  A  year  later  a  young  people's 
prayer-meeting  was  carried  on  in  good  condition  ;  also,  the  facts 
were  reported  that  there  was  no  money  there,  but  plenty  of  bache- 
lors. 

In  1876  a  site  was  given  for  a  church,  and  a  building  of  "  hewed 
cedar"  was  afterwards  erected  upon  it,  which  was  finished  in  1S78, 
without  debt.  There  was  "  no  money  "  in  that  region,  so  the  church 
in  Seattle  gave  the  windows,  doors,  nails  and  flooring,  and  the 
people  gave  the  work.     It  was  not,  however,  until  July  5th,  1879, 


Congregational    Association.  i  i  c 


when  Dr.  Atkinson  was  able  again  to  visit  them,  that  it  was  dedi- 
cated. When  it  became  a  Congregational  church  it  numbered 
sixteen  members.  Since  that  time  seven  have  been  added  by  letter, 
and  thirteen  on  profession  of  faith,  some  have  been  dismissed,  and 
it  numbered  twenty-seven  members  in  June,  1S79. 


WHITE  RIVER,   W.   T. 

[Prepared  mainly  from  a  sketch  furnished  by  Rev.  S.  Greene.] 
This  church  was  formed  on  the  23d  day  of  October,  1877,  by 
eight  members  of  the  Seattle  church  residing  in  and  near  White 
river  valley,  and  three  others  who  desired  to  join  on  profession  of 
faith,  their  ideas  being  in  accordance  with  the  doctrines  and  polity 
of  Congregationalism.     These  had  been  gathered  by 

Rev.  Samuel  Greene, 
Who  resided  in  the  valley,  and  was  at  the  organization  chosen 
acting  pastor,  and  so  remained  as  long  as  the  church  continued  to 
exist.  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.  D.,  was  present  at  the  organiza- 
tion, and  preached  the  sermon  on  the  "  New  Testament  Polity  of 
our  Churches,"  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  administered 
the  Communion.  A  letter  was  also  received  from  the  church  at 
Seattle,  wishing  the  little  band  prosperity,  and  giving  the  right 
hand  token  of  love. 

The  church  at  once  adopted  the  plan  of  systematic  giving,  and 
so  continued,  with  such  success  that  the  total  contributions  &of  its 
eleven  members  reached  the  sum  of  $150  in  seventeen  months,  al- 
though all  of  them  were  poor,  and  many  of  them  had  never  been 
educated  to  this  mode  of  benevolence. 

The  church,  however,  found  it  a  hard  struggle  to  live,  so  that  in 
the  spring  of  1S79  the  members  felt  inclined  to  disband,  and  perhaps 
would  have  so  voted  had  it  not  been  for  encouraging  words  from 
sister  churches.  The  pastor,  who  in  turn  with  other  denominations 
had  preached  to  the  church  only  once  a  month,  removed  to  Seattle. 

The  church  had  no  home,  and  were  unable  to  build.  Some  of 
the  members  moved  away,  and  some  found  it  more  convenient  to 
attend  at  Seattle  than  at  White  river,  and  so  in  the  spring  of  1880 
the  church  disbanded,  most  of  the  members  sending  in  their 
letters  to  the  Seattle  churches. 


n6  Congregational  Association. 

COLFAX,  W.  T. 

During  the  summer  of  1874,  Rev.  C.  Eells,  then  residing  on 
Puget  Sound,  held  some  services  at  this  place;  and  the  next  sum- 
mer similar  work  was  performed,  and  likewise  in  1876.  The  lack 
of  competent  gospel  ministers  was  seen  in  the  country,  which 
was  rapidly  growing,  on  account  of  events  connected  with  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  The  continued  services  of  a  Congre- 
gational clergyman  seemed  plainly  to  he  needed,  hut  the  outlook 
varied;  it  was  afflictive;  it  was  hopeful.  But,  that  fall,  a  definite 
plan  of  church  organization  and  material  supply  was  indicated  ; 
and  there  was  large  correspondence  that  winter  between  Mr.  Eells 
and  Dr.  Atkinson,  in  regard  to  evangelistic  work  in  Whitman 
county.  In  the  prosecution  of  that  plan,  the  former  reached  Colfax, 
June  22d,  1877,  where  he  has  since  resided;  and  the  latter  on  the 
fifth  of  the  next  month,  on  a  visit.  On  the  next  day,  after  delib- 
erate and  prayerful  consideration,  it  was  voted  to  organize,  and  on 
the  following  day  an  examination  of  those  suitable  to  enter  the 
church  was  made;  and  on  Sabbath,  July  8th,  Plymouth  church  was 
fully  organized,  on  the  basis  of  Roy's  Manual,  with  ten  members, 
five  males  and  five  females,  three  only  of  whom  joined  by  letter. 

Rev.  G.  Eells 
Was  chosen  pastor.  A  constitution  was  adopted  August  3rd  and 
6th,  and  steps  were  soon  taken  to  erect  a  church  building.  The 
next  year  it  was  begun,  but  was  not  finished  so  as  to  be  dedicated 
until  September  7th,  1S79.  It  is  thirty  by  sixty  feet,  and  at  that 
time  had  cost  about  twenty-six  hundred  dollars;  and  near  four  hun- 
dred dollars  have  since  been  added  during  the  present  season.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Atkinson,  and  the  dedicatory  prayer 
was  by  the  pastor,  with  other  parts  by  Revs.  E.  W.  Allen  and  H. 
T.  Cowley.     The  church  now  numbers  seventeen  members. 


DAYTON,   W.   T. 


In  September,  1872,  Rev.  E.  W.  Allen  moved  to  a  farm  near 
this  place,  and  began  preaching  in  the  town,  once,  twice,  three 
times,  and  even  four  times  a  month,  as  he  had  opportunity,  when 
there  was  no  preaching  by  other  denominations.  In  1875,  Rev.  C. 
Eells,  prompted   by    Rev.   P.   B.    Chamberlain    of  Walla    Walla, 


Congregational  Association.  117 


visited  the  place,  and  talked  with  reference  to  an  organization,  as 
several  members  of  the  Walla  Walla  church  resided  there.  In  the 
spring  of  1S77,  ne  again  visited  the  place,  and  obtained  the  names 
of  those  who  were  willing  to  unite,  the  matter  of  an  organization 
being  much  more  thoroughly  canvassed.  The  facts  were  com- 
municated to  Dr.  Atkinson,  who  visited  the  place,  and  a  church 
was  organized  July  15th,  1S77,  with  ten  members,  and  Mr.  Allen 
was  chosen  pastor.  Since  that  time  five  others  have  been  added — 
two  of  the  whole  number  having  joined  on  profession  of  faith.  Mr. 
Allen  is  mainly  self-supporting,  as  the  members  of  the  church  are 
very  poor,  and  can  have  preaching  of  their  own  only  as  it  is  given 
them  free  of  cost,  or  nearly  so.  The  church  has  been  worshipping 
with  the  Methodists,  with  whom  they  work  in  the  Sabbath  school. 


OLD  TACOMA,  W.   T. 

When  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad  determined  to  make  its  ter- 
minus on  Commencement  Bay,  without  announcing  the  precise  spot, 
Dr.  Atkinson,  in  August,  1873,  began  services  in  the  school-house  at 
this  place.  At  the  close  of  the  service,  a  collection  was  taken  up 
to  pay  for  the  tent,  to  be  used  for  church  purposes;  and  on  the  next 
Sabbath  worship  was  held  in  the  tent,  and  continued  until  cold 
weather.  A  building  was  then  erected,  which  was  known  as  the 
reading  room,  and  was  also  constantly  used  for  church  purposes. 
When  the  railroad  company  fixed  upon  New  Tacoma  as  the  place 
of  their  terminus  on  the  bay,  Dr.  Atkinson  still  continued  services 
at  the  old  town,  preaching  there  generally  once  a  month,  on  the 
same  Sabbath  that  he  visited  the  new  town.  In  the  fall  of  1878 
four  persons,  who  were  members  of  the  church  at  New  Tacoma, 
but  living  at  the  old  town,  feeling  that  it  was  better  to  have  an  or- 
ganization of  their  own  nearer  home,  took  letters  and  were 
organized  into  a  church,  October  20,  187S;  and  since  the  spring  of 
1879,  in  common  with  the  church  at  New  Tacoma,  it  has  enjoyed 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Banfield. 


NORTH  PORTLAND,  OREGON. 

In   1864,  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.,  then  pastor  of  the  First 
Congregational   church   at  Portland,  by   invitation  began   holding 


n8  Congregational  Association. 

services  at  the  house  of  Deacon  G.  R.  Smith,  and  this  was  kept  up, 
once  in  three  or  four  weeks,  in  the  neighborhood,  for  several  years, 
with  some  interruptions,  until  the  finishing  of  the  church  building, 
when  the  services  were  removed  to  it.  A  Sabbath  school  was 
begun  by  Deacon  Smith  in  1865  or  1866,  and  has  been  sustained 
most  of  the  time  since,  under  his  superintendence,  that  of  C.  B. 
Talbot,  Esq.,  Deacon  L.  M.  Parrish  and  Deacon  G.  Shindler.  In 
1876  a  prayer-meeting  was  begun,  which  has  been  sustained  with 
an  average  attendance  of  from  ten  to  eighteen  at  different  times. 

After  ineffectual  attempts  to  obtain  church  lots  near  West  Park 
street,  in  1865,  and  again  on  Tenth  street,  it  was  resolved  to  cross 
the  ravine,  and  establish  the  mission  enterprise  at  the  corner  of  E 
and  Fourteenth  streets.  It  was  beyond  the  residence  of  the  people, 
and  was  thought  to  be  too  inconvenient.  The  streets  were  paths, 
and  it  was  hard  on  one,  Sabbath  afternoon,  after  other  services,  to 
cross  the  ravine  on  a  log.  But  Deacon  Smith  clung  to  the  idea, 
and  the  pastor  thought  it  wise  for  the  future.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Couch 
donated  two  lots  for  the  church,  and  frequently  gave  money  for  its 
erection.  The  building  was  begun  in  1867,  and  was  built  slowly — 
piece  by  piece — by  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  First  church,  who  have  also  given  liberally  of  books 
and  papers,  and  the  bell  which  belonged  to  their  old  building.  In 
1874  it  was  finished  and  paid  for,  at  a  cost  of  about  twenty-five 
hundred  dollars,  two  hundred  of  which  were  given  by  the  Con- 
gregational Union. 

A  series  of  meetings  held  in  the  spring  of  1879,  resulted  in  a 
number  of  conversions,  and  February  9,  1879,  a  church  of  seventeen 
members  was  organized,  thirteen  of  whom  joined  on  profession  of 
faith.     About  the  first  of  January,  1880, 

Rev.  E.  P.  Baker 
Assumed  the  pastorate  of  this  church,  in  connection  with  that  at 
East  Portland.  The  Sabbath  school  has  been  a  flourishing  one, 
with  one  hundred  and  fifty  scholars  enrolled,  and  an  average  at- 
tendance of  one  hundred  and  fifteen.  The  preliminary  work  has 
been  long  and  trying  to  faith,  but  fruit  is  beginning  to  be  seen,  and 
the  city  and  its  inhabitants  extend  now  far  beyond  the  church, 
which  was  far  beyond  the  city  when  the  building  was  begun. 


Congregational   Association. 


119 


YAKIMA  CITY,  W.   T. 


In  1871,  Deacon  James  Kesling,  who  was  one  of  the  early  mem- 
bers of  the  Atahnum  church,  began  a  Sabbath  school  at  this  place, 
and  the  next  year  it  was  regularly  organized,  he  being  elected 
superintendent.  This  has  been  continued  by  himself  and  a  few  co- 
laborers  ever  since.  It  has  been  the  main  religious  light  of  the 
region,  and  has  been  held  in  the  court  house  for  the  past  four  or 
five  years.  There  has  been  about  as  little  Congregational  preach- 
ing here  as  at  Atahnum,  but  there  has  been  some  by  other  denom- 
inations. In  the  spring  of  1S79,  some  of  the  older  scholars  became 
Christians,  and,  on  consultation,  it  was  thought  best  to  organize  a 
church.  Dr.  Atkinson  visited  them,  held  several  services,  and  on 
April  27,  1S79,  it  was  organized  with  sixteen  members,  twelve  of 
them  joining  on  profession  of  faith.  In  connection  with  the 
Atahnum  church,  it  now  enjoys  the  services  of  Rev.  Mr.  Capps  as 
pastor,  numbers  twenty-five  members,  only  six  of  whom  have 
joined  by  letter,  and  is  planning  to  erect  a  church  at  home. 


SPOKANE  FALLS,   W.   T. 

About  1874,  Rev.  H.  T.  Cowley  moved  to  this  place  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  Spokane  Indians,  and  also  held  services  with  the 
whites,  who  were  flocking  to  the  same  place,  on  account  of  the 
prospects  of  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad.  For  nearly  four  years  he 
continued  in  this  work,  when  he  resigned  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Indians;  and,  May  26,  1879,  a  church  was  organized  with  nine 
members,  two  of  whom  were  Spokane  Indians,  who  have  earned 
a  good  reputation  as  Christians.  It  was,  literally,  "  the  church  in 
thy  house." 


WHITE  SALMON,  W.  T. 

Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.D.,  the  acting  pastor,  organized  this 
church,  May  4,  1879,  with»nine  members — three  joining  by  letter, 
and  the  rest  on  profession  of  faith.  Services  of  some  kind  had 
long  been  held  in  the  neighborhood,  more  or  less  for  twenty  years. 
During  much  of  the  time  only  three  or  four  families  lived  in  the 
region,  but    when    Sabbath    came    they   gathered  in  the  house  of 


120  Congregational  Association. 

Deacon  E.  S.  Joslyn,  Deacon  E.  S.  Tanner  or  Deacon  Warner,  and 
read  over  a  sermon  ;  and  once  in  a  long  time  were  favored  with 
one  from  some  visiting  clergyman.  As  the  country  began  to  fill 
up,  other  families  moved  into  this  region;  but  it  was  not  until  the 
spring  of  1879  that  the  neighborhood  grew  so  that  it  was  thought 
advisable  to  organize  a  church,  and  then  the  canvass  was  begun  as 
an  experiment.  But  when  the  people  were  visited,  to  the  surprise 
and  jov  of  the  Christians  there,  the  company  of  three  who  were 
ready  to  unite  by  letter,  grew  to  be  nine;  some  of  those  uniting  on 
profession,  welcoming  the  organization  with  tears.  Without  a 
church  home,  their  services  were  held  during  the  first  summer, 
under  an  oak  tree.  Says  the  Pacific,  of  one  of  these  services:  "On 
the  hill,  under  an  oak,  fourteen  at  communion.  Surely  apostolical 
simplicity  is  not  entirely  unknown  in  our  day." 


CHA-WE-LAH,   W.  T. 

Since  the  oi-ganization  of  the  local  association,  another  small 
church  has  been  added  to  the  number  at  Cha-we-lah,  about  twenty- 
five  miles  south  of  Fort  Colville.  In  1874,  Rev.  C.  Eells  con- 
ducted services  at  that  place,  and  some  of  the  hearers  had  not  then 
heard  a  gospel  sermon  by  a  Protestant  clergyman  for  twenty  years. 
Occasional  services  were  also  held  there  during  succeeding  years 
until  1879,  when  four  persons,  some  of  whom  had  been  residents  of 
the  place  for  twenty-five  years,  but  had  had  no  church  home,  and 
who  had  been  "  faithful  among  the  faithless  found,"  were  united 
together  in  a  church  organization,  September  14,  1879,  Rev.  C. 
Eells  performing  all  the  services.  Since  that  time  their  pastor  has 
been  able  to  visit  them  but  once. 


WENASS,  W.  T. 

This  church  was  organized  September  14,  1879,  by  Revs.  D.  B. 
Gray  and  Wm.  Capps,  during  a  visit  *of  the  former  to  the  region. 
Eight  persons  united  in  the  organization,  four  more  joined  in  the 
afternoon  and  three  others  have  since  been  added.  Rev.  Wm.  Capps 
was  chosen  pastor,  Joseph  Taylor,  deacon;  and  Charles  Longmire, 
clerk. 


Congregational  Association.  121 


EIGHT-MILE  CREEK,  OREGON. 

This  church  was  organized  September  14,  1879,  by  Rev.  G.  H. 
Atkinson,  D.D.,  with  six  members;  most  of  whom  came  from  the 
church  at  The  Dalles.  Rev.  E.  P.  Roberts  has  been  its  acting 
pastor,  and  it  is  in  a  farming  and  grazing  region. 

MOUNT  ZION,  OREGON. 

This  church  is  about  three  miles  from  Portland.  About  ten 
years  ago  when  Dr.  Atkinson  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Portland, 
besides  his  two  regular  services,  he  often  walked  to  this  place  and 
held  a  third  service.  Much  of  the  time,  too,  Deacon  H.  M.  Hum- 
phrey who  lives  here,  has  held  a  Sabbath  school  and  Bible  class  for 
the  benefit  of  those  who  could  not  go  to  Portland  on  the  Sabbath. 
During  the  latter  part  of  1879  considerable  religious  interest  was 
found  to  exist  among  the  older  members  of  this  school,  and  Jan- 
uary 4,  1880,  the  church  was  organized  with  eighteen  members,  by 
Dr.  Atkinson,  many  of  its  members  coming  on  profession  of  faith 
from  the  Sabbath  school.  Rev.  Edward  Rogers  has  been  secured 
as  pastor,  who  labors  also  at  Beaverton. 


BEAVERTON,  OREGON. 

This  church  in  Washington  county  was  organized  by  Dr. 
Atkinson  January  4,  1880.  The  preliminary  work  was  begun  by 
him  at  least  as  far  back  as  1876,  but  quarterly  visits  were  about  all 
he  has  at  times  been  able  to  give  it.  On  account  of  a  great  storm 
several  persons  were  prevented  from  joining  it  at  its  organization, 
who  intended  to  do  so,  so  that  it  began  with  three  members.  Six 
have  since  been  added.  Rev.  E.  Rogers  has  been  secured  as 
pastor,  in  connection  with  his  work  at  Mount  Zion. 


PORT  GAMBLE,   W.   T. 

For  about   nine  years  there  has  been  more  or  less  preaching  at 
this  place,  the  largest  saw-mill  town   in  the  territory.     About  1871 

Rev.  J.  F.  Damon 
Began    work   here,  though   residing   at   Seattle,  nearly   thirty-five 


122  Congregational    Association. 


miles  distant,  and  continued  it  monthly  or  semi-monthly  for  sev- 
eral years,  when  not  prevented  by  sickness  or  other  causes ;  and 
this  work  was  so  largely  appreciated,  that  on  Christmas,  1874, 
Messrs.  Pope  &  Talbot,  the  owners  of  the  mills,  presented  the  Sab- 
bath school  with  an  excellent  library,  every  family  in  the  place 
with  a  copy  of  "  Bringing  in  Sheaves,"  by  Rev.  A.  B.  Earle,  and 
Rev.  J.  F.  Damon  with  forty  additional  copies  for  distribution  else- 
where; while  the  people  presented  Mr.  Damon  with  a  title-deed  of 
his  homestead  in  Seattle,  obtained  at  a  cost  of  three  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  There  were  periods  of  considerable  time,  however, 
when  ill-health  and  other   causes   prevented   Mr.  Damon  from  this 

work,  and  then 

Rev.  G.   H.   Atkinson,  D.D., 

Filled  his  place,  and  in  1874  a  reading-room  was  established  for  the 
benefit  of  the  people,  and  especially  the  young  men  about  the  mill. 
Through  his  labors  a  church  building  was  begun  in  1S7S,  preach- 
ing having  been  previously  held  in  the  public  halls.     In  November, 

1878, 

Rev.  N.  W.  Lane,  M.D„ 

A  licentiate,  by  invitation  of  the  people,  moved  to  the  place,  and 
since  that  time  has  preached  regularly,  while  at  the  same  time  he 
has  acted  as  the  physician  of  the  town.  July  13,  1879,  the  church 
having  been  completed,  was  dedicated,  with  sermon  by  Dr.  At- 
kinson, and  other  parts  by  Revs.  R.  S.  Stubbs  and  N.  W.  Lane. 
Thus,  slowly  but  steadily,  step  after  step  was  taken,  until  March 
20,  1880,  by  invitation,  a  council  met  at  the  place,  for  the  examina- 
tion of  Dr.  Lane,  which  continued  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing until  half  past  three  in  the  afternoon.  Hie  examination  was 
long  and  thorough,  and  quite  satisfactory  to  all  the  members.  On 
the  following  day,  Sabbath  morning,  the  public  exercises  con- 
nected with  the  ordination  took  place,  with  sermon  by  Rev.  J.  F. 
Ellis,  ordaining  prayer  and  charge  by  Dr.  Atkinson,  and  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  M.  Eells.  In  the  evening  a  church  of 
seven  members  was  organized,  Di.  Atkinson  preaching  the  sermon 
and  giving  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  ;  and  this  was  followed  bv 
the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  by  Dr.  Atkinson  and  Mr. 
Eells.  Thus,  after  many  years  of  toil  and  faith  and  waiting,  a 
church  was  founded  and  a  regularly  ordained  minister  settled  to 
labor  at  this  important  centre  of  a  country  nearly  one  hundred 
miles  square,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  territory. 


Congregational  Association.  123 


PRINEVILLE,  OREGON. 

This  church,  in  eastern  Oregon,  was  organized  by  Dr.  Atkinson 
April  11,  1S80,  with  eleven  members,  after  a  week's  earnest  Chris- 
tian work  among  the  people.  But  few  religious  services  had  ever 
been  held  there,  and  yet  it  seemed  desirable  that  the  Christians 
should  come  together  in  a  union  organization,  and  when  this  was 
done,  Dr.  Atkinson  was  chosen  pastor.  Mr.  C.  H.  Walker,  of  the 
Warm  Springs  Indian  reservation,  also  preaches  to  them  about  once 
a  month.  The  organization  has  aroused  new  Christian  effort,  and 
a  union  church  building  is  under  contract  by  the  people. 


SEABECK,   W.   T. 

This  is  a  milling  town  of  Puget  Sound,  and  contains  a  population 
of  two  or  three  hundred.  In  the  fall  of  1876  Rev.  M.  Eells  began 
visiting  the  place,  where  he  was  very  kindly  received  by  the  super- 
intendent of  the  mill,  R.  Holyoke,  Esq.,  and  by  the  people  gener- 
erally.  Up  to  that  time  the  place  had  hardly  averaged  two  sermons 
a  year,  although  it  had  been  settled  for  ten  or  fifteen  years.  Mr. 
Eells  visits  generally  have  amounted  to  about  eight  a  vear.  Rev. 
Mr.  Nickerson  of  the  Protestant  Methodist  church,  Rev.  Mr. 
Cairns  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Lane,  a  Congregation- 
alist,  for  a  time  had  appointments  at  the  place,  but  all  had  ceased 
by  the  spring  of  1878.  The  changing  character  of  the  population 
in  the  milling  towns  on  Puget  Sound  has.  rendered  all  church 
organization  difficult,  and  it  was  so  in  this  case;  so  that  it  was  not 
until  the  spring  of  1880  that  it  seemed  wise  to  attempt  it,  but  at 
that  time  nine  persons  were  found  ready  to  enter  such  an  organiza- 
tion, and  this  was  consummated  May  16th  of  that  year.  Mr.  Eells 
made  three  attempts  to  obtain  assistance  at  that  time,  but  all  failed, 
and  so  he  was  obliged  to  perform  all  the  parts  in  the  services.  Two 
of  the  number  joined  on  profession  of  faith,  and  the  rest  by  letter; 
of  whom  one  came  from  a  Congregational  church  and  two  from  a 
Protestant  Methodist  church  in  this  territory,  one  from  a  Congre- 
gational church  in  California,  one  from  a  Presbyterian  church  in 
British  Columbia,  one  from  a  Lutheran  church  in  Norway,  and  one 
from  the  Episcopal  church  of  England. 


124 


"ONGREGATIONAL    ASSOCIATION. 


This  churci 
three    members, 
much  neglected    fie 
the  district  for  years, 
worship.     Dr.  Atkinson 
have  been  taken  to  erect  a 


'ASHOUGAL,   W.  T. 

1    by   Dr.  Atkinson  May  4,  1880,  with 

to  three   denominations,  and  is  in  a 

■ional   services  have  been  held  in 

were  glad  to  receive  Sabbath 

stor,  and  preliminary   steps 


MOUNT    PLEA. 


This  church  was   organized  in  a  fam.  Atkinson,, 

after  two  visits  among  the  people,  and  two  "es,  with 

eight  members.      They  had  neither  church  st.  chool 

or  prospect  of  any,  and  some  of  them   had   not  .  for 

two  years.      Four   Christian   families   were   found, 
worship,   but  were   of   three  denominations.     Their 
was  a  glad  surprise  to  some.     They    have   chosen  Dr.  A 
pastor,  also  other  officers,  and  have  made  arrangements  to 
church  building. 


History  0f  thP  r„ 


